Nguyen Xuan Son’s brace in Vietnam’s 2-1 victory over Thailand on January 2 has made him the highest-scoring Vietnamese player in a single AFF Championship. With seven goals to his name, Son now leads the tournament’s scoring chart, three goals clear of Nguyen Tien Linh, Suphanat Muenta (Thailand), and Shawal Anuar (Singapore), the latter of whom is no longer in contention as Singapore was eliminated.
Son has achieved this remarkable feat in just four matches, including three braces. His doubles came against Myanmar (5-0 in the group stage), Singapore (3-1 in the semifinal second leg), and Thailand (2-1 in the final first leg). He also netted the decisive goal in Vietnam’s 2-0 victory in the first leg of the semifinals after earning the penalty that set up Tien Linh’s opener.
In the match against Thailand, Son opened the scoring in the 59th minute with a header from Vu Van Thanh’s cross. Fourteen minutes later, he capitalized on a defensive error by Chalermsak Aukkee, surging forward to unleash a powerful shot into the far corner to complete his brace. Despite missing two additional one-on-one opportunities with goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai, Son’s contributions were pivotal in securing Vietnam’s historic win.
Closing in on the Golden Boot
With a commanding lead in the scoring race and only one match remaining, Son is on the verge of claiming the Golden Boot. If successful, he will become the second Vietnamese player to achieve this honor, following Nguyen Tien Linh, who was the top scorer in 2022.
Son is also the first Vietnamese player to score more than six goals in a single AFF Championship. His consistency has been extraordinary, netting in four consecutive matches and surpassing the previous Vietnamese record of goals scored in three consecutive matches set by Le Huynh Duc during the 1996 Tiger Cup.
Chasing Historical Milestones
Son’s achievements place him among the all-time greats of the tournament. The current record for most goals scored in a single AFF Championship is held by Singaporean striker Noh Alam Shah, who scored 10 goals in 2007, including a staggering seven-goal haul against Laos. While Son would need a hat-trick in the second leg of the final to tie this record, his performance has already etched his name into the history books.
From Brazil to Vietnam: A Unique Journey
Born Rafaelson in 1997, Son received Vietnamese citizenship in September 2024, becoming the first naturalized player without Vietnamese heritage to join the national team since 2009. He follows in the footsteps of notable predecessors such as Phan Van Santos, Huynh Kesley Alves, and Dinh Hoang Max.
Son’s record-breaking contributions have been a testament to his integration into the team and his impact on Vietnam’s campaign. As the national team prepares for the decisive second leg against Thailand, Son’s form and leadership will remain crucial as Vietnam seeks to lift the AFF Cup trophy.
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