Naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son expressed his excitement and gratitude ahead of his official debut for Vietnam against Myanmar in the final Group B match of the ASEAN Cup 2024.
Son appeared alongside Coach Kim Sang-sik at the pre-match press conference on December 20. As per usual practice, players attending such events are typically included in the starting lineup unless unforeseen circumstances arise. The occasion also marked exactly five years since Son began residing continuously in Vietnam, meeting FIFA’s eligibility criteria to represent the national team.
The Brazilian-born forward, who became a Vietnamese citizen in September, will be the first naturalized player to represent Vietnam since 2009. Speaking at the press conference, the 1997-born player initially appeared nervous but soon grew comfortable, smiling broadly by the end.
“I am very excited and well-prepared,” Son shared. “Despite some fatigue in the squad, we are fully focused. We will fight together and aim for victory against Myanmar.”
Son, whose birth name is Rafaelson, described the opportunity to play for Vietnam as a “wonderful moment.” He expressed his happiness and gratitude for the support from the team. “I will focus on enjoying the game and giving my best to help Vietnam secure the win,” he added.
Son has proven his quality during five successful seasons in the V-League, representing clubs such as Nam Dinh, Da Nang, and Binh Dinh. Excluding the 2021 season, which was canceled due to COVID-19, he has scored 75 goals in 100 appearances across the V-League, National Cup, and Super Cup competitions. He holds the record for most goals scored in a single V-League season, netting 31 goals in the 2023-2024 season, surpassing the previous record of 25 goals by Le Huynh Duc in 1996. Despite injuries, Son has scored seven goals in six matches this season, tied with top scorers Nguyen Tien Linh and Leonardo Artur.
When asked about how he might celebrate a potential goal for Vietnam, Son laughed and said, “I haven’t decided yet. I need to think about that special moment, but honestly, I haven’t figured it out.”
He also expressed confidence in singing Vietnam’s national anthem. “I’ve been practicing daily and engaging with fans and teammates to ensure I do it well,” he said.
Before leaving the press conference, Son posed with Coach Kim Sang-sik, flashing a thumbs-up and a wide smile. When encouraged by the media to score a hat-trick, he cheerfully replied, “I’ll try my best” and “Okay.”
Vietnam will face Myanmar at 8 PM on December 21 at Viet Tri Stadium. Heading into the final group stage match, Vietnam leads Group B with seven points, needing just a draw to secure the top spot.
Historically, Vietnam has dominated Myanmar, with eight wins, two draws, and one loss. In their last six encounters, Vietnam has won four and drawn two, with notable results in the ASEAN Cup group stage including 7-1 (2010), 1-1 (2012), 2-1 (2016), 0-0 (2018), and 3-0 (2022).
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