Thai media mocks Nguyen Xuan Son's physical condition after his return to the spotlight.
Despite Vietnam's 3-0 victory over Bangladesh, striker Nguyen Xuan Son was still heavily criticized by the Thai press for his declining fitness and weight after his injury.
The Vietnamese national team secured a convincing 3-0 victory against Bangladesh in a friendly match on the evening of March 27th. The match marked the important return of Doan Van Hau and the partnership between Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen. However, the performance of the Brazilian-born striker, coming on as a substitute, became the focus of mixed reviews from regional media, particularly in Thailand.
The contrast between the reigning MVP and his current image.
In stark contrast to his explosive performance when he scored 7 goals and won the Best Player award at the 2024 AFF Cup, Nguyen Xuan Son's return was criticized for lacking ball control and fluidity. The popular Thai sports fan page KrianBuriramv2 made some rather harsh comments about the appearance of the star currently playing for Nam Dinh Steel Green.
This news site commented: "The Brazilian-born striker of the Vietnamese national team has returned to play after a long period of injury, but his physical condition is no longer what it used to be. His performance has clearly declined, almost like a different person." Experts from Thailand believe that weight gain has directly affected his acceleration and ability to handle the ball in tight spaces, significantly reducing the inherent danger this striker once posed.
The consequences of serious injury and the protective measures of coach Kim Sang-sik.
In fact, Xuan Son's decline was predictable. He had to spend 10 months away from the pitch after suffering a serious leg fracture in the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final in Thailand. The main striker of the Vietnamese national team only returned to high-intensity training and competition from the end of 2025.
Faced with negative public opinion, coach Kim Sang-sik defended his players in the post-match press conference. The South Korean strategist frankly admitted the current shortcomings but at the same time called for patience from the fans.
"We need to re-check Xuan Son's weight. He's been suffering from thigh pain lately, so his movement wasn't very fluid today. Xuan Son is trying to regain his best form. I expect him to perform better in the match against Malaysia," said Kim Sang-sik.
The challenge of rediscovering killer instincts.
A player who has been sidelined for almost a year due to a bone injury needs a lot of time to regain their feel for the ball and peak performance. Statistics from the second half of the match against Bangladesh show that Xuan Son still made intelligent off-ball movements, but his connection with his teammates was not yet optimal.
The upcoming match against Malaysia will be a more crucial test to assess the striker's recovery. For the Vietnamese national team, helping Xuan Son rediscover his killer instinct before official tournaments is a top priority, despite the psychological pressure from opposing media.
