I am the champion, top scorer, best player of the tournament... And broke my leg". Rafaelson/Nguyen Xuan Son shared in the documentary "I am Nguyen Xuan Son". 3 details in glory and 1 detail in the feeling of hell partly describe the career path of the 29-year-old striker.
But if only mentioning milestones, goals or glory, it's all like "a drop of water in a well that has been full". It is worth mentioning that Xuan Son's journey through the most difficult period of his career - a injury that left him away from the field for 9 months.
Worrying about career
For athletes, the biggest fear after an injury is not in the moment it occurs, but in what happens afterwards. Xuan Son is also like that. He is worried when every movement in training is slow, far from the feeling of roaring before; worried about the long days of waiting and the risk of no longer being himself. Meanwhile, his career in the Vietnamese national team has just begun, just reaching the first bright spot.
Xuan Son still lives with his family, receives many words of encouragement and celebrates his first Tet as a Vietnamese person. But when returning to the training and recovery cycle, facing moments of solitude and the struggle between reason and feeling of giving up, that is the biggest challenge. At this time, the story is no longer a trauma, but a test of patience.
Weight problem
As soon as Xuan Son suffered an injury in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2024 final (against Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium on January 5, 2025), many opinions suggested that weight was the main reason for the landing error. From there, physical condition became a pressure, especially when it was associated with his eating habits.
Although there is no specific research or clear information about nutrition, there is still a perception that Xuan Son belongs to the "easily gain weight" type. In fact, at times he was said to be gaining weight, accompanied by reduced scoring efficiency after returning.
Coach Kim Sang-sik himself, after the friendly match against Bangladesh 3-0 on March 26, also mentioned "re-examining Xuan Son's weight", although he did not specify the number. Of course, outsiders also discussed a lot and considered it the reason why he moved not smoothly, missing scoring opportunities.
Unlike Hoang Hen - a naturalized player who has just been called up to the national team and maintains a very stable physique, Xuan Son's weight is still mentioned as long as he has not confirmed his return with a goal.
Evidence
After the Vietnam national team lost to Malaysia national team 0-4 in the first leg of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers that Xuan Son had to watch on television, he posted on his personal page the number "March 31, 2026", as an appointment for the opponent. Even when the Vietnam national team was later defeated 3-0 because Malaysia violated the naturalization of 7 players, the appointment remained intact. It was even supplemented with other details.
On March 26, 2026, as mentioned, Xuan Son's weight issue was mentioned, he only said that his weight is due to muscles, not fat. Only because he has not scored, the problem is pushed higher. When he scores, everything will be fine.
On March 28, on his personal Facebook page, Xuan Son posted a photo in the gym with a status quoting Cristiano Ronaldo: "Confidence does not come from outside, it always comes from within. There is no coincidence, nothing is lucky. I believe that luck comes from diligence".
And on March 31, as scheduled, Xuan Son scored a double goal against Malaysia in the 3-1 victory at Thien Truong Stadium. He celebrated by pulling his shirt and pointing to his 6-pack abs. Although saying "don't care about what people talk about", that response shows that he still cares. The issue is overcoming emotional pressure to assert himself.
Friend Hoang Hen
In fact, to get a response to the right opponent, at the right time like that, it must also be said that former teammate at Thap Xanh Nam Dinh, Hoang Hen, had great help. At some point, Xuan Son was likened to a "hunter", but the way he made decisions showed that the necessary quality of patience was not found. Only when Hoang Hen, then Tien Anh, passed the ball perfectly for Xuan Son to complete a double, did he fulfill his promise.
It is not surprising that both Xuan Son and Hoang Hen gave each other compliments, sharing their understanding in playing football. And of course, because of that, Vietnamese fans are very much looking forward to a more successful journey for the Vietnamese team.
