Shimmering light
In 2023, Dang Van Lam won the Vietnamese Dong Ball title. This is the only overseas Vietnamese star who has ever entered the top 3 nominations for the most prestigious individual title of national football.
The goalkeeper born in 1993 was not too excellent in the 2023 season, but it is considered the most suitable time for him to gain recognition on a personal level.
Dang Van Lam's career peak lies in the 2018-2020 period, but it is very difficult to directly compete with Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Hoang Duc or Nguyen Tien Linh.
Even when the national team does not play successfully, Van Lam is even more unlikely to have a chance. In V.League, there are still "eternal trees", playing particularly excellently like Nguyen Van Quyet. The captain of Hanoi club is "unlucky" with the national team, but he still always shows a different level when returning to the club.
Remember that Dang Van Lam has been the most outstanding name in the Vietnamese-American football world in recent years. When the goalkeeper of Ninh Binh is still struggling in the personal title race, it is difficult to find a Vietnamese-American with more opportunities.
Will there be a "golden" time in the future?
Of course, not only fans but even experts also want overseas Vietnamese players to win the Vietnamese Golden Ball title once. That is recognition, a great motivation for overseas Vietnamese to look towards their homeland, believing in a bright future when contributing to Vietnamese football.
This beautiful dream may only appear in the future for the generation of overseas Vietnamese players born after 2003 - the age just finished the last SEA Games.
Currently, the two highest-level overseas Vietnamese players are Cao Pendant Quang Vinh and Nguyen Filip. In the process of voting for the 2025 award, Quang Vinh also entered the group of players competing for the Golden Ball. But absolutely no one mentioned the player born in 1997 because he is still too far from the voting criteria.
Both Quang Vinh and Nguyen Filip play in defense, positions that are always disadvantaged in terms of individual titles. There will have to be a Viet Kieu who plays offensively, being the "chosen person" for memorable moments to be able to compete fairly with domestic stars.
In the end, not only the Vietnamese Golden Ball but even the World Golden Ball are still votes decided by emotions. If Dinh Bac had not shined at SEA Games 33, he probably could not have won the title of best young player, let alone the Silver Ball.
Dinh Bac's contribution to the club or team is probably still inferior to Jason Quang Vinh Pendant. But, that is also a hint for fans about the picture of each Golden Ball season.
Let's wait for a more explosive and emotional overseas Vietnamese player in the future.
