Xuân Son is set to face Malaysia’s naturalized star players even before meeting Vietnam’s national team.

Nguyễn Xuân Son stands before the opportunity to confront Malaysia’s debated naturalized players right at the ASEAN Club Championship, ahead of a rematch with Malaysia alongside the Vietnam national squad.

Nguyễn Xuân Son will have the chance to directly compete against Malaysia’s controversial naturalized players. This will happen earlier than expected, even before the Vietnam national team meets Malaysia again at the international level.

According to the schedule, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh Club will face Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) on February 5th at the ASEAN Club Championship. This match is not only decisive for the group’s top position but also draws special attention as Nguyễn Xuân Son, currently the hottest scorer in Southeast Asia, will go head-to-head with Malaysia’s naturalized players.

Previously, Xuân Son attracted attention by expressing his desire to “avenge” the heavy 0-4 loss Vietnam suffered against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. However, while fans await the national team rematch, the Brazil-born striker now has the chance to face Malaysia’s naturalized stars at the club level.

Notably, JDT’s squad currently includes several naturalized players whose eligibility has sparked controversy, such as Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, and Joao Figueiredo — all recently allowed to play again temporarily by CAS and FIFA. Additionally, Malaysia’s top club has goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi and two players considered “future naturalized” candidates, Bergson da Silva and Hidalgo, who are awaiting citizenship procedures.

On the other hand, Nguyễn Xuân Son is showing explosive performance wearing the Nam Dinh jersey. Since returning from injury, the striker has scored 7 goals, leading the ASEAN Club Championship’s top scorer chart and becoming the biggest hope for the Nam Dinh team. His ability to hold off defenders, diverse finishing skills, and composure in big matches make Xuân Son a genuine threat to JDT’s defense.

Therefore, the upcoming match is not just a group stage game but serves as a “prelude” to the Vietnam-Malaysia battle scheduled for March 31st. For Xuân Son, it is a chance to prove his class against the debated naturalized players and send a strong message that he is ready for any challenge, whether at the club or national team level.