Nguyen Xuan Son in the list of 40 candidates for The Guardian 2025

On the evening of November 13, The Guardian announced a preliminary list of 40 candidates for the title of Best Player of the Year 2025, including Nguyen Xuan Son. The presence of the 28-year-old striker attracted special attention because he has not played a single minute in 2025 due to a long-term injury, but his mark in the previous season was enough to convince the voting committee.

Nomination to make an impact: the only representative of Vietnam

Nguyen Xuan Son is the only representative of Vietnam to be nominated this year. The news quickly created an impact on European and domestic media, emphasizing the increasingly wide influence of players from V.League on the football map.

Memorable exception: not yet competing in 2025

The highlight of the nomination lies in the positive paradox: Xuan Son has not played in 2025 due to injury, but his previous achievements are still enough to "keep the heat" in the eyes of experts. This is a recognition of his enduring ability instead of just looking at his immediate performance.

Professional value from last season

At club level, Xuan Son shone in helping Nam Dinh win the V.League championship, while also winning a double of individual awards including Top Scorer and Best Player of the Season. On the national team, he left a strong impression at the ASEAN Cup 2024, adding an important layer of data to the nomination profile.

Meaning of nomination

Although the chances of making it into the final 40 or going further are considered slim, being on the preliminary list is still a significant milestone. It shows that Xuan Son has not only won over domestic audiences but also been recognized by the international press.

How The Guardian voted and the context of recent years

Every year, The Guardian invites international coaches, journalists and former players to vote for the best player in the world. The 2024 list attracted attention when Rodri topped the list, followed by Vinicius Junior, Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham.

Vietnam team before the match against Laos

Xuan Son has now recovered from his injury and is training with the Vietnamese team to prepare for the match against Laos. Xuan Son is likely to be given a chance to start in the context of Coach Kim wanting to experiment with his personnel to create more depth for the attack.

In the first leg, Vietnam won 5-0 against Laos at My Dinh Stadium. Notably, the match between Laos and Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers was postponed to 7 p.m. on November 19.

Key milestones

• November 13: The Guardian announced the preliminary list of 40 candidates for the Best Player of 2025.
• 28 years old: Nguyen Xuan Son's age at the time of nomination.
• 5-0: First leg result between Vietnam and Laos at My Dinh Stadium.
• 19:00, November 19: Time for the next match between Laos and Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

This nomination is a timely morale boost for Xuan Son and the Vietnamese team, right before the team enters an important competition schedule.