Vietnam naturalized striker's surgery successful after severe injury in ASEAN Cup

Nguyen Xuan Son and his wife before the surgery on Jan. 6, 2025. Photo provided by the hospital

Dr. Tran Trung Dung, who directly supervised the surgery at Vinmec hospital, said on Tuesday morning that Son could move with crutches after the surgery. For the next step, he will begin physical therapy and rehabilitation, combined with a personalized nutritional regimen that is suitable for each stage of recovery.

The surgery for Son ended at 10 p.m. on Monday, with the participation of doctors who are all experienced in sports medicine and have treated many players of the Vietnam national team.

Before surgery, in-depth examination and expert consultation showed that Son's injury was more serious than initially reported. The striker had a complex closed fracture of the middle third of the two tibia bones, with two major fragments.

Doctors decided to perform closed bone fusion surgery using an intramedullary nail with a pin under the fluoroscopy screen. This is a minimally invasive surgical solution, helping to minimize soft tissue damage and ensure a quick recovery.

Son was injured in the ASEAN Cup final at Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand, on Sunday evening when he dribbled and tried to make a pass into the Thailand penalty area. His right foot struck hard against the ground. After a few minutes of first aid on the field, Son was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Bangkok. Initial examination and imaging results in Thailand determined that Son had broken the fibula and tibia of his right leg.

Nguyen Xuan Son during the surgery for his fractured leg at Vinmec Hospital in Hanoi, Jan. 6, 2025. Photo provided by the hospital

Son, whose Brazilian name is Rafaelson Fernades, was born in 1997 and received Vietnamese nationality in September 2024. He became the first naturalized player without Vietnamese origin to be called up to the national team since 2009.

The 27-year-old striker was vital in Vietnam's journey to the tournament, scoring seven goals in four matches, including braces against Singapore and Thailand. Despite not playing the full final, he won MVP and top scorer awards in the tournament, as Vietnam lifted the champion cup.