Tuan Hai (number 10) celebrates his shot that helped Vietnam equalize 2-2 in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final against Thailand in Rajamangala. Stadium, Bangkok, Jan. 5, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hieu Luong |
Individual achievements
Striker Nguyen Xuan Son became the first Vietnamese player to win the tournament’s Golden Boot outright, scoring seven goals despite missing the first three games. He broke the tie set by Nguyen Tien Linh and Thailand’s Teerasil Dangda with six goals each in the previous edition.
Son, a Brazilian-born striker who adopted Vietnamese citizenship in September, suffered a severe leg injury and had to leave the Sunday final during the first half.
While Son could not surpass the all-time record of 10 goals in a single tournament, held by Singapore’s Noh Alam Shah in 2007, his performance was a highlight of Vietnam’s campaign.
Additionally, this was the first time Vietnam had two players—Son and Nguyen Tien Linh—score four or more goals in a single tournament, further demonstrating the team’s offensive strength.