This saying can be specifically applied to Nguyen Tien Linh, Vietnam Golden Ball 2024. No longer being teased, the efforts of the striker of Becamex Binh Duong club and the Vietnam National Team deserve to be recognized. And anyone can apply this philosophy to develop themselves.
Looking back at the history of the Vietnam Golden Ball, Pham Thanh Luong and Nguyen Quang Hai - the first victory at the age of 21, Nguyen Hoang Duc at the age of 23, were the early successors, after only 3-4 years of his career. There are also people honored at Tien Linh's age such as Do Hung Dung (26 years old in 2019), even older such as Nguyen Minh Phuong (2010), Nguyen Anh Duc (2015), Nguyen Van Quyet (2020) at the age of 29, 30. But Tien Linh is the only case to follow the step-by-step roadmap from the Bronze Ball (2021), to the Silver Ball (2022) and then the Golden Ball (2024).
It must be admitted that, compared to many other Golden Balls, including many other players, Tien Linh is not equal in individual technique. However, his efforts - and patience - are the most noteworthy points for this striker. That is partly demonstrated through his career journey. From the youth teams to the national team, he is mostly just a backup option. It was only since 2020 that the player from Hai Duong broke through, and now, he is in the Top 3 best strikers in the history of the Vietnam National Team (25 goals), after only 2 people who have retired, Le Cong Vinh (51), Le Huynh Duc (27), while quite far behind Nguyen Quang Hai (33) and Nguyen Cong Phuong (12).
Tien Linh received the Golden Ball, still receiving many criticisms for his playing style and technique. However, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the number behind the title. That is, the Golden Ball is for the best player, most impressive in a year, a period, not throughout their career. If so, Lionel Messi will take the Ballon d'Or home every year...
So, for Hoang Duc, after the Golden Ball and the Silver Ball, will it be a step back? At all, because the important thing is, as Tien Linh said, he will "not stop". Everyone is like that, without needing to compare with others but comparing themselves, so that today is better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow, even if it is only 1%...
