Nguyễn Văn Quyết (left) and Cu Thị Huỳnh Như pose with their Golden Ball awards. Photo courtesy of organisers

Football

HÀ NỘI – Nguyễn Văn Quyết won the 2020 Golden Ball award for the most valuable player of the year on Tuesday in a ceremony in HCM City.

Striker Quyết, captain of Ha Noi FC, secured 526 points to overcome defenders Bui Tiến Dũng (162 points) and Quế Ngọc Hải (124 points), both of Viettel, to take the first Golden Ball of his career.

He previously came second in 2014 and 2015.

“I have been waiting for years to have the chance to take this honour for the first time,” said the 29-year-old Quyết.

“I want to say ‘thank you’ to my coaches, teammates and supporters who have trained, competed with and encouraged me. They have helped me a lot to win this title.”

The award went to Quyết after his outstanding performances for five-time champion Ha Noi FC last season.

Under his leadership, the team won the National Cup, finished second in the V.League 1 and won the Super National Cup for the fourth time.

He was voted the best player of Ha Noi while named the best player of the 2020 V.League 1 season by the national football organising board.

On the women’s side, Cu Thị Huỳnh Như won her third Golden Ball.

Striker Như played a key role in HCM City’s national championship victory last month. She bagged 497 points to leave behind forward Phạm Hải Yến of Ha Noi and goalkeeper Trần Thị Kim Thanh of HCM City.

“This title shows people’s love for me as well as female football in the last year. Thank you for loving us and going along with us, no matter what we win or lose,” said Như who previously lifted the award in 2016 and 2019.

The best young male player award went to defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh of Ha Noi while the best young female was striker Ngan Thị Vạn Sự of Ha Noi 1.

Brazilian forward Bruno Cantanhede of Ha Noi FC was honoured as the best foreign player.

In futsal, Nguyễn Minh Trí of Thai Sơn Nam secured the Golden Ball for the first time. He was followed by Hồ Văn Ý (Thai Sơn Nam) and Phung Trọng Luan (Sanatech Khanh Hòa).

The Vietnamese Golden Ball award was introduced in 1995 by the Sai Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sai Gòn) newspaper with coaches, experts and journalists voting for the best players. VNS