Vientiane, 19 November 2025 – Nguyen Xuan Son marked his official comeback with a decisive penalty in Vietnam’s 2-0 win over Laos, but the naturalised striker insisted the goal belonged to the whole team.
In the 67th minute at the National Stadium, Vietnam were awarded a penalty after a Laos defender handled the ball from Pham Tuan Hai’s cross. From the spot, Xuan Son powered a low shot into the bottom left corner, leaving goalkeeper Anoulak Vilaphonh with no chance. His teammates immediately rushed to congratulate him, as this was his first official match since suffering a serious leg injury in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2024 final last January.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the 28-year-old expressed his joy at returning after nearly a year of recovery. “Everyone supported and encouraged me a lot during my injury. This goal belongs to the whole team,” he said.
Regarding the penalty, the Nam Dinh striker added: “We asked Hoang Duc and Quang Hai if they wanted to take it. But they let me do it so I could score my first goal after almost a year.”
Originally from Brazil and born as Rafaelson, Son became a Vietnamese citizen in September 2024 and was renamed Nguyen Xuan Son. He became the first naturalised player without Vietnamese heritage to be called up to the national team since 2009. During Vietnam’s triumphant ASEAN Cup 2024 campaign, he scored seven goals to win both the Golden Boot and Best Player award.
A severe injury kept him out of the early Asian Cup qualifiers, and he only returned to Vietnam’s squad for the Laos match. After watching the team struggle to break through in the first half, head coach Kim Sang-sik introduced him at the start of the second half. Although still cautious in duels, he was directly involved in the crucial moment, combining with Tuan Hai in the play that led to the decisive penalty.
“We started quite poorly and didn’t keep the ball well,” Son assessed. “We have to improve. But in the end, these are three important points. Sometimes you don’t play well but still get the win—that is what matters most.”
When asked to rate his own performance, Son refused. “I don’t want to talk about myself. The victory for the whole team is what counts. The goal is already enough for me today.”
Vietnam’s second goal came in stoppage time, when Tuan Hai converted a spectacular acrobatic finish. The 2-0 result allows Vietnam to close the gap to Malaysia to just three points. Only the group winners will qualify directly for the Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia in early 2027. Malaysia still hold the advantage but are awaiting a ruling from FIFA regarding allegations of falsified documents used by seven naturalised players.
Before the Asian Football Confederation issues a final decision, Son and his teammates will host Malaysia in a decisive showdown on 31 March 2026.
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