Xuan Son is causing Teacher Kim to worry.

With the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship (AFF Cup) fast approaching, Nguyen Xuan Son's lack of form while playing for his club is a cause for concern for coach Kim Sang-sik.

Only scored 2 goals in 6 matches.

Looking back at the match between the Vietnamese national team and Malaysia in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup in late March 2026, fans surely haven't forgotten the brilliant performance of Nguyen Xuan Son. The Brazilian-born striker scored a brace with two powerful headers, making a significant contribution to Vietnam's 3-1 victory. Immediately after scoring at Thien Truong Stadium, Xuan Son celebrated impressively by lifting his shirt and pointing to his toned abdominal muscles. This action was like a strong affirmation from the striker, proving that he is still a top-class striker, playing a crucial role in the Vietnamese national team's tactical scheme.

Xuan Son (12) is currently not in good form in the Nam Dinh Club jersey.

Photo: Minh Tú

His brilliant performances for the Vietnamese national team at the time were thought to be a psychological boost, helping the Brazilian-born striker regain his confidence upon returning to his club. However, the reality that followed was quite bleak. Alongside Nam Dinh's inconsistent run in the V-League, Nguyen Xuan Son also experienced a period of somewhat lackluster performances. Since the victory against Malaysia, the V-League has completed 8 rounds. In those matches, Xuan Son played in 6 games, starting 5 times, but only contributed 2 goals. For a striker who once made history in Vietnamese football by scoring 31 goals in a single season (2023-2024), this achievement clearly falls short of his level and the expectations placed upon him.

Xuan Son's form is a worrying sign as the AFF Cup 2026 is set to begin in July. However, it's not entirely accurate to say that Xuan Son will perform poorly when playing for the national team. In the national team environment, Xuan Son is supported by teammates of consistently high quality, far superior to the average level in the V-League. Playing alongside some of the most creative passers in Vietnamese football today, such as Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Hoang Duc, and Do Hoang Hen, will open up many opportunities for the Brazilian-born striker. When receiving assists from high-class teammates, Xuan Son can fully utilize his intelligent movement, keen positioning, and diverse finishing skills to penetrate the opponent's defense.

Teacher Kim's quality solution

In the worst-case scenario, if Xuan Son is unable to rediscover his "killer" instinct, coach Kim Sang-sik still has quality options in attack. Do Hoang Hen and Nguyen Tai Loc (Geovane Magno - who recently completed his naturalization) are both top-class strikers in the V-League at the moment. Tai Loc has contributed 5 goals for Ninh Binh FC in the last 8 rounds. Meanwhile, Hoang Hen has also maintained an impressive scoring rate with 4 goals in 7 appearances since joining the Vietnamese national team in March.

Besides the naturalized stars, coach Kim Sang-sik certainly cannot overlook Nguyen Dinh Bac. The Vietnam U23 striker is currently in his best form since playing in the V-League. In the final stages of the 2025-2026 season, the 22-year-old striker had an incredible scoring rate, contributing 10 goals in his last 8 matches. Dinh Bac's explosive performance played a crucial role in helping Hanoi Police FC make a strong surge and win the V-League championship three rounds early. With that brilliant form, Dinh Bac is currently the best domestic striker in the national championship this season. On the V-League top scorer list, the striker from Nghe An is only behind two foreign players: Alan Sebastiao (Hanoi Police FC, 15 goals) and Lucao (Hai Phong FC, 11 goals).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xuan-son-khien-thay-kim-lo-lang-185260525210452953.htm