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Nguyễn Xuân Son after injury: “I Will Come Back Stronger”

Even while recovering in the hospital, striker Nguyễn Xuan Son expressed his joy as Vietnam defeated Thailand to win the 2024 ASEAN Cup.

Vietnam’s striker Nguyễn Xuan Son promised to return stronger after his nasty injury during the Asean Cup 2024 final against Thailand.

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“Vietnam are champions. Thank you for all your messages,” Xuân Son wrote on his social media on January 5. “I will come back stronger.”

Recovery Plan for Xuân Son

According to sources from VnExpress, Xuân Son will not undergo surgery in Thailand but will return to Vietnam for treatment. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and his club, Nam Định, have pledged full support to ensure his recovery.

Xuân Son is expected to undergo an intramedullary nailing procedure, a minimally invasive surgery that helps patients recover and regain mobility faster. However, he will still need at least six months before he can play again.

Injury on the Field

Xuân Son suffered a serious injury during the second leg of the final at Rajamangala Stadium on January 5. While dribbling and attempting a cross into Thailand’s penalty box, his right leg slammed forcefully onto the ground.

After receiving initial treatment on the field, he was taken to a hospital in Bangkok. Scans revealed that he had fractured both his fibula and tibia in his right leg.

At the hospital, Xuân Son’s wife and members of the VFF stayed by his side. He watched the rest of the match on his phone and was overjoyed as Vietnam beat Thailand 3-2, securing a 5-3 aggregate victory and their third ASEAN Cup title.

A Historic Journey

Born in 1997 in Brazil, Xuân Son, whose birth name is Rafaelson, became a Vietnamese citizen in September 2023. He is the first naturalized player without Vietnamese ancestry to join the national team since 2009.

Despite missing the end of the match, Xuân Son achieved an incredible feat: winning both the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards. He scored seven goals and provided two assists, making him only the third player in ASEAN Cup history to earn both honors in the same tournament, following Singapore’s Noh Alam Shah (2007) and Thailand’s Chanathip Songkrasin (2020).

A Tribute from His Teammates

Midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải accepted Xuân Son’s awards on his behalf, holding up Son’s number 12 jersey during the ceremony. The entire team repeated the gesture as they lifted the trophy, dedicating the victory to their injured teammate.

Xuân Son is set to return to Vietnam with the national team on January 6. Despite his setback, he remains optimistic and determined to recover fully and return to the pitch stronger than ever.