No one can surpass Xuan Son…

Xuan Son rode alone on horseback.

The success of the Vietnamese national team at the 2024 AFF Cup has made the race for the Vietnamese Golden Ball award even more exciting. The spotlight is currently focused on striker Nguyen Xuan Son.

The striker born in 1997 shone brightly with 7 goals, needing only 5 matches to win the top scorer and best player award at the AFF Cup 2024. It's not an exaggeration to say that Xuan Son is 50% of the Vietnamese national team's strength, as the versatility, all-around ability, and class of the player wearing the number 12 jersey have helped the entire team conquer the highest peaks.

Xuan Son (right) shines at the AFF Cup 2024

However, the date he officially becomes a Vietnamese citizen is October 15, 2024. And according to legal and professional regulations, Xuan Son is only allowed by FIFA to play for the Vietnamese national team on December 21, 2024 (exactly when they will face Myanmar in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024).

At the time the organizers finalized the list of nominees, Xuan Son had only recently obtained Vietnamese citizenship.

Xuan Son practices walking after surgery, optimistic about returning to the football field.

"Rafaelson has completed his Vietnamese citizenship with the Vietnamese name Xuan Son, but because he played as a foreign player before becoming a naturalized citizen, Rafaelson's name should be listed under the category of Best Foreign Player. Including him in the Men's Golden Ball award list wouldn't be appropriate. Perhaps next year, in the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball award, if he deserves it, he could be included in the list of outstanding male players," said Tran Anh Tu, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Xuan Son awaits the opportunity to join the five-star club.

Xuan Son has been nominated for the "Best Foreign Player of the Year" award. With 31 goals in 26 matches leading Nam Dinh FC to the V-League championship, along with his brilliant performance for the Vietnamese national team, Xuan Son is almost certain to win this title, surpassing rivals such as Hendrio Araujo, Leo Artur, and Rimario Gordon.

Who is the best male player of the year?

Looking at the overall performance, the race for the best male player award will be between Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Hoang Duc, and Nguyen Quang Hai.

Tien Linh had a memorable 2024 with 15 goals for Binh Duong Club. In the V-League 2024-2025 season, Tien Linh is playing well with 7 goals in 9 matches, leading the top scorer list.

At the 2024 AFF Cup, even though Tien Linh was a substitute for Xuan Son, he still scored 4 goals, second only to his teammate in the list of top scorers for the Vietnamese national team.

Among Tien Linh's goals, there were crucial moments such as the successful penalty kick against Singapore in the first leg of the semi-final at Jalan Besar Stadium, or the goal also against Singapore in the second leg, which helped his team win 3-1 overall.

Tien Linh has scored 7 goals in the V-League since the beginning of the season.

Hoang Duc is also a very strong candidate, as he was a key player in the Vietnamese national team's midfield at the 2024 AFF Cup. The midfielder, born in 1998, played outstandingly in the semi-finals and final with his classy ball handling and shielding, helping the team withstand the pressure from Thailand and Singapore. Although he didn't contribute to any goals, Hoang Duc's contribution was invaluable.

However, a drawback for Hoang Duc is his only moderately good performance at The Cong Viettel in the first half of the year, before he was relegated to the First Division to play for Ninh Binh Club. There, Hoang Duc contributed to the team's top position, but the quality of the First Division is far inferior to the V-League, where Tien Linh is currently competing.

As for Quang Hai, his crucial goals and assists, even though he only came on as a substitute at the AFF Cup, make him a strong candidate as well.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/canh-tranh-hang-muc-quan-trong-cua-qua-bong-vang-viet-nam-khong-ai-qua-duoc-xuan-son-185250111145355533.htm