Xuan Son was tragically crossed out for the second time, losing the Vietnam Golden Globe Cup?

Nguyen Xuan Son is in one of the nominations, but with the "strange yet familiar" name Rafaelson. He was nominated for the Best Foreign Player award and was not nominated for the 2024 Vietnam Golden Ball, which made many people wonder.

Accordingly, after 5 years of accompanying Vietnamese football, Nguyen Xuan Son was officially naturalized successfully in August 2024 and is eligible to play for the national team at the end of December 2024. This is an extremely successful year for the Brazilian striker when he contributed greatly to helping Nam Dinh FC win the V.League championship and with the Vietnamese national team win the AFF Cup 2024.

Player Nguyen Xuan Son.

However, Nguyen Xuan Son is not on the shortlist for the 2024 Vietnam Golden Ball. He is only nominated for the Best Foreign Player award under the name Rafaelson. Xuan Son's case is quite special because it is not until the end of the year that he will play as a player with Vietnamese nationality.

Experts say that if his name is nominated for the Golden Ball, Nguyen Xuan Son has a chance to compete with other candidates to become the first naturalized player to win this title. Never before in the history of the Vietnam Golden Ball has a foreign player on the nomination list worn the Vietnamese national team jersey and left such a big mark. However, that is the Organizing Committee's regulation. If he can maintain good form when he returns to compete, Xuan Son can absolutely win the Vietnam Golden Ball in the future.

2024 witnessed many ups and downs in Vietnamese football, especially the men's national team when it was eliminated from the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup and stopped early in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Coach Philippe Troussier was fired and replaced by coach Kim Sang Sik. At the club level, Nam Dinh won the V.League while Thanh Hoa successfully defended the title in the National Cup.

Who holds the chance of winning?

Before the ASEAN Cup 2024 took place, looking at the nomination list from the Organizing Committee as well as the statistics, Tien Linh was considered the most promising candidate, even without a rival in the 2024 Golden Ball award.

The striker with the second highest scoring efficiency of the Vietnamese team at the ASEAN Cup last year also played relatively well at B.Binh Duong Club in the 2023/2024 season or the ongoing 2024/2025 season, so he deserves to be considered the number 1 candidate.

List of nominations for the 2024 Vietnam Golden Ball categories:

Men's Golden Ball:

Nguyen Tuan Anh, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Filip, Nguyen Quang Hai, Pham Tuan Hai, Bui Vi Hao, Khuat Van Khang, Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Tien Linh, Tran Nguyen Manh, Chau Ngoc Quang, Nguyen Van Quyet, Hoang Vu Samson, Nguyen Thai Son, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Van Toan, Cao Van Trien, To Van Vu.

Women's Golden Ball:

Khong Thi Hang, Nguyen Thi Truc Huong, Nguyen Thi Van, Duong Thi Van (Than KSVN), Chuong Thi Kieu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan, Tran Thi Thu Thao, Tran Thi Thuy Trang (HCMC), Huynh Nhu (Lank/HCMC), Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (Thai Nguyen T&T), Pham Hai Yen (Hanoi I)

Futsal Golden Ball:

Nguyen Manh Dung, Pham Duc Hoa, Nhan Gia Hung, Chau Doan Phat, Nguyen Thinh Phat, Ho Van Y (Thai Son Nam, Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Da Hai, Tu Minh Quang, Pham Van Tu (Thai Son Bac), Ngo Ngoc Son (Sahako).

Outstanding foreign player:

Hendrio, Rafaelson (Nam Dinh), Jeferson Elias (Hanoi Police Club), Patrik Le Giang (HCMC), Rimario (Thanh Hoa), Mpande (Hai Phong), Lucao (Hai Phong), Olaha (SLNA).

Best Young Men's Player:

Nguyen Dinh Bac, Bui Vi Hao, Nguyen Phi Hoang, Khuat Van Khang, Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Van Truong, Nguyen Van Tung, Nguyen Quoc Viet.

Outstanding Young Female Player

Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh (Thai Nguyen T&T), Vu Thi Hoa, Luu Hoang Van (Phong Phu Ha Nam), Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh (HCMC I), Do Thi Anh My (Hanoi II).

Xuan Son's salary is leaked, too low, far behind his teammates? Thảo Mai16:04:41 11/01/2025As one of the most notable players in recent times, Nguyen Xuan Son's salary and signing bonus have made the public curious. Recently, a fanpage with a large number of interactions has revealed this.