Vietnam striker donates Golden Ball prize money to charity

Nguyen Tien Linh (C) wins the Vietnamese Golden Ball on Feb. 26, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

"I'm the happiest person tonight," Tien Linh wrote on social media. "I want to share this happiness by dedicating all the 2024 Vietnamese Golden Ball prize money to help six families facing difficult circumstances through the Vietnamese Family Home program. Additionally, I will contribute funds toward building a house for children at Dan Van Primary and Secondary School in Hoang Su Phi District, Ha Giang City."

Known for his commitment to charity, Tien Linh is actively involved in supporting various causes. He serves as the volunteer ambassador of the southern Binh Duong Province, where his club is based.

The 27-year-old striker frequently donates both cash and goods to assist underprivileged individuals, terminally ill patients and homeless elderly people.

In 2024, he and his family donated all monthly earnings from their family-owned cafe to support those affected by Typhoon Yagi in northern Vietnam.

He also collaborated with the People's Committee of Binh Duong to organize a charity football match which raised nearly VND9 billion for the Binh Duong Red Cross Society.

At the 2024 Vietnamese Golden Ball awards ceremony on Feb. 26, Tien Linh triumphed over strong contenders Hoang Duc and Tuan Hai to claim the prestigious individual award for the first time.

"This award is truly meaningful to me. It’s something I’ve longed for all these years. It represents the fullest recognition of my efforts, not just in 2024, but throughout my entire journey from when I was a young player," Tien Linh said.

Last year, Tien Linh scored 8 goals in 26 matches for Becamex Binh Duong during the V. League. This season, his form continued with 10 goals in 14 matches. At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, he contributed to Vietnam’s title win, scoring 4 goals, second only to naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son with 7 goals.

Looking ahead, Tien Linh shared his personal goals: "I aim to win the V. League top scorer this season and further down the line, match the scoring records of my mentor Le Huynh Duc and my senior Le Cong Vinh for the national team. I know this is a challenging goal, but I will give it my best."