Southeast Asian media surprised by Xuân Son’s return to the Vietnam national team

The Seasia Goal fanpage shared a post celebrating Xuân Son’s return to the Vietnam national team following an extended injury break.

On the evening of November 6, the Vietnam Football Federation officially announced the national team call-up list in preparation for the match against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The most talked-about inclusion was Nguyễn Xuân Son’s comeback, who has been sidelined since early 2025 due to an injury sustained in the second leg final of the 2024 AFF Cup. His return not only attracted domestic media attention but also caught the eye of neighboring countries.

Accordingly, the fanpage Seasia Goalpublished a post welcoming Xuân Son back to the Vietnam national team after a long injury hiatus.

The post included the following excerpt: "He’s back!!! Rafaelson (Nguyễn Xuân Son) officially rejoins the Vietnam national team after months off due to injury! The Brazil-born forward, who played a key role in Vietnam’s AFF Cup victory last year, has fully recovered and has been called up by coach Kim Sang Sik for the November FIFA matchdays. Vietnamese fans… you know what’s coming!"

Notably, since January 5, 2025, when Xuân Son was sidelined with a serious injury in Thailand, the 1997-born striker has not played any official matches. He only recently resumed training with his teammates at Thép Xanh Nam Định after more than 10 months of recovery.

Previously, it was expected that Xuân Son would be out for the entire 2025 season to fully heal. However, his recent comeback caught the attention of coach Kim Sang Sik, making it possible for him to wear the red and yellow jersey again after a long absence.

His comeback is crucial, especially as Vietnam faces challenges against Malaysia in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. With the two teams set to meet in March next year, Xuân Son is expected to be in peak condition (barring further injuries), becoming a key hope for the "Golden Dragon" to overcome the "Malayan Tigers" and secure a spot in Asia’s premier tournament.

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