There are 24 other players, besides Linh, in the nominee list.
The Best Footballer in Asia title has been organized and presented since 2013 by Titan Sports – the most circulated sports newspaper in China – to honor players in Asia who had the great performances during the previous calendar year.Â
The award is handed to both Asian players and non-Asian players who are playing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) member countries.
The winner is selected by nearly 50 sports journalists representing Asian countries.
From the 25-man shortlist, the journalists choose the top five players based on their individual and collective achievements during the year.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Linh is considered a top striker in the country, scoring seven goals in the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the Golden Stars have made their presence for the first time ever.
Linh is the second Vietnamese player nominated for the award since its inception, following mid-fielder Nguyen Quang Hai in 2018 and 2019, when he finished in the top 15 and 17, respectively.
Along with Linh, Thai defender Theerathon Bunmathan is the second Southeast Asian footballer that has made it to the list this year.
Currently, Son Heung Min of South Korea has won the most Asian Best Player titles, with six victories, while Keisuke Honda and Shinji Okazaki of Japan claimed one each.
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