Xuan Son absent from nomination for Vietnam Golden Ball 2025
The list of 23 nominees for the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball was announced at Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper; Xuan Son is absent due to a long-term injury and may return to the match on November 19.
On the morning of November 6, the 30th voting season of the Vietnam Golden Ball Award 2025 kicked off at the headquarters of Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper. The list of 23 nominees for the Best Male Player category was announced, and the notable absentee was Xuan Son - the naturalized striker of the Vietnam national team - due to a long-term injury.
Xuan Son and the gap in the title race
Xuan Son's absence is directly explained by the serious injury he suffered in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final, which caused him to miss almost the entire year of 2025. Although he has returned to training and competing recently, his participation period is not long enough for him to make an impression in the new season, thereby not meeting the voting criteria for contributions throughout the year.
23 nominations and the names in focus
The nomination list brings together familiar pillars as well as outstanding young faces in the country. Some notable names:
- Hoang Duc
- Tien Linh
- Quang Hai
- Bac Temple
- Thanh Nhan
- Khuat Van Khang
Without Xuan Son, the race will lose one strong competitor. That opens up clearer opportunities for the national team's pillars and the group of rising young talents.
Injury from the 2024 AFF Cup final took away almost the entire year 2025
The breaking point of the story was the second leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final. That injury kept Xuan Son off the field for most of 2025. His short return was not enough to make up for a year of interrupted competition – a decisive factor in the annual awards cycle.
Last season's legacy and the title paradox
A year ago, Xuan Son was the mainstay of the attack, contributing greatly to the journey to the AFF Cup final and shining in the V-League. However, due to his naturalization and still playing as a foreign player for most of the season, he only won the Best Foreign Player of the Year 2024 category. It is a paradox that shows his professional influence was once very clear, but procedural barriers and injury timeline have prevented him from getting close to the highest title.
Impact on the race and return date 11/19
If not injured, many people believe that Xuan Son is capable of competing equally with candidates like Hoang Duc or Tien Linh. Currently, his absence has tilted the title balance towards the group of players with stable contributions throughout the year. On the other hand, the notable information is that Xuan Son is expected to be able to return to play this month in the match against Laos on November 19 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. That is an important milestone for him to regain his rhythm and rebuild his playing profile for the next stage.
Key timeline
- Morning of November 6: Announcement of the start of the 30th voting season and the list of 23 nominees at the headquarters of Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper.
- AFF Cup 2024 Final Second Leg: The moment Xuan Son suffered a serious injury.
- 2025: Out of action for most of the year; only recently returned to training and competition.
- November 19: Expected to be able to return in the match against Laos, 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Overview of the Vietnam Golden Ball 2025
The 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball continues to be a stage to honor the continuity of performance and influence at both club and national team levels. In the context of Xuan Son's absence, the list of 23 nominees emphasizes the inheritance between the generation of pillars and the emerging youth. The race is still wide open, but a gap in the attacking nuances that once marked Xuan Son is hard to ignore.
