Xuan Son is absent from the nominations for the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball award.
The list of 23 nominees for the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball award has been announced in Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper; Xuan Son is absent due to a long-term injury, but may return to the match on November 19th.
On the morning of November 6th, the 30th season of the Vietnam Golden Ball Award 2025 kicked off at the Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper headquarters. The list of 23 nominees for the Best Male Player category was announced, and a notable absence was Xuan Son – the naturalized striker of the Vietnamese national team – due to a long-term injury.
Xuan Son and the gap in the title race.
Xuan Son's absence from the list is directly explained by the serious injury he sustained in the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final, which kept him out for almost the entire year of 2025. Although he has recently returned to training and playing, his time there hasn't been long enough for him to make a significant impact in the new season, thus failing to meet the criteria for contributions throughout the year.
23 nominees and the names at the center of attention.
The list of nominees includes both familiar pillars and outstanding young talents in the country. Some notable names include:
- Hoang Duc
- Tien Linh
- Quang Hai
- North Temple
- Thanh Nhan
- Khuat Van Khang
Without Xuan Son, the race has one less formidable opponent. This opens up clearer opportunities for national team pillars and the emerging group of young talents.
Injuries sustained during the 2024 AFF Cup final have cost me almost the entire year of 2025.
The turning point in the story lies in the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final. That injury forced Xuan Son to leave the field for most of 2025. His recent return, even for a short time, was not enough to compensate for a year of interrupted play – a crucial factor in cyclical awards.
The legacy of the previous season and the paradox of the title.
A year ago, Xuan Son was a key player in the attack, contributing significantly to the team's journey to the AFF Cup final and shining in the V-League. However, due to recently becoming a naturalized citizen and continuing to play as a foreign player for most of the season, he only won the award for Best Foreign Player of 2024. This is a paradox, showing that his professional influence was once very clear, but procedural obstacles and a series of injuries prevented him from getting closer to the highest title.
Impact on the race and the return date of November 19th.
If he hadn't been injured, many believed Xuan Son would have been able to compete on equal footing with contenders like Hoang Duc or Tien Linh. Currently, his absence has shifted the balance of the title heavily towards the group of players who have made consistent contributions throughout the year. Conversely, noteworthy information is that Xuan Son is expected to return to play this month in the match against Laos on November 19th in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This is an important milestone for him to regain his form and rebuild his playing record for the next stage.
Key timeline
- On the morning of November 6th: The launch of the 30th voting season and the list of 23 nominees were announced at the headquarters of Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper.
- 2024 AFF Cup Final Second Leg: The time when Xuan Son suffered a serious injury.
- 2025: Absent from competition for almost the entire year; only recently returned to training and competition.
- November 19th: Expected to make a comeback in the match against Laos, 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The overall picture of the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball award.
The 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball continues to be a stage to honor continuity in performance and influence at both club and national team levels. With Xuan Son absent, the list of 23 nominees emphasizes the succession between the current generation of key players and the rising young talent. The race remains wide open, but a void in the attacking style once marked by Xuan Son is difficult to ignore.
