Nguyen Xuan Son receives 600 million VND car after ASEAN Cup heroics, scores injury-time winner as Nam Dinh tops V.League

In the 88th minute of added time, when Nam Dinh was leading 3-0 against Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nguyen Xuan Son rose up and headed the ball into the net, helping his team win 4-0. That moment not only gave Nam Dinh three points but also helped them top the V.League table after the first round. After Vietnam successfully defended the ASEAN Cup 2026 title, with him as a top-scoring striker, he returned to Nam Dinh with high spirits. Coach Kim Sang Sik praised him as the top-class center forward, and then he received a special reward from the Vietnam Football Federation: a 600 million VND electric SUV and 100 million VND in cash. From my observations over many seasons, Nguyen Xuan Son always combines personal technique with the ability to take advantage of opportunities. Although he scored only 5 goals in 8 matches, three of them were decisive. His goal against Malaysia in the semi-final helped Vietnam advance far, and ultimately to the championship. He shared the top scorer award with Dinh Bac. The relationship between him and Coach Kim Sang Sik is highly regarded, creating an effective attacking system. He is often placed as a focal point, making good use of stretching movements and regaining possession in the final third. That coordination has brought clear success to both the national team and Nam Dinh. However, another view is that from the outside, many people might think he only relies on decisive goals like headers or late goals. But in reality, he has proven his value through indicators such as pressing actions and intelligent movement. This shows a misunderstanding of the true role of a real center forward. The promise for this V.League season is a promising season. Nam Dinh is starting very well after the first round. The internal signals suggest he will continue to shine, bringing confidence to the entire team and Vietnamese football.