Vietnam's naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son has spoken about his determination to help the national team defend its ASEAN Cup crown while revealing his ambition to finish as the tournament's top scorer.

"I think everyone - not only the coach but also my family - expects a lot from me. That's why I'm here to do my best for the Vietnam national team. That's my mission. I think everyone knows my style and what I can bring to the team. I'm here simply to help the team," Xuan Son said.

The 1997-born striker admitted that returning to top form has been challenging after suffering a broken leg but said he now feels physically ready.

"To be honest, I've only just come back from a serious injury after breaking my leg, so it hasn't been easy to get back to 100 percent. But now I feel my fitness is good. I try to score goals and help the team with assists. I don't know exactly what the coach expects from me, but I'll always give everything I have," he said.

As Vietnam's leading striker, Xuan Son has set his sights on winning the Golden Boot at ASEAN Cup 2026.

"My goal remains the same - to become the tournament's top scorer. But the most important thing is winning. If I finish as the top scorer but Vietnam doesn't win the title, then it means nothing to me. The trophy is what matters most. Individual awards come later. I want to win this championship once again," he said.

Alongside preparing for ASEAN Cup 2026, Xuan Son said he is also looking forward to supporting his native Brazil at the World Cup and is particularly excited about the knockout match against Japan.

"I think it will be a great match. Honestly, I can't wait to watch it. The better team will win. Japan has improved a lot, but I hope Brazil wins, maybe 2-0," he added.

Xuan Son takes on first leadership role with Vietnam

Vietnam have announced their leadership group for the ASEAN Cup 2026 training camp, with midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai retaining the captaincy. Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Xuan Son have been appointed vice captains.

Quang Hai's appointment reflects his continued importance to the national team, both for his experience and influence on and off the pitch. The 1997-born midfielder is regarded as a leader who consistently demonstrates professionalism, responsibility and the ability to unite the squad.

Xuan Son's first appointment to the leadership group highlights his growing integration into the national team and is expected to strengthen the bond between experienced Vietnamese players, naturalized footballers and overseas Vietnamese members of the squad.

Vietnam are currently training in Hanoi before departing for a training camp in South Korea from July 2 to July 14. During the camp, the team will play three friendly matches against carefully selected opponents as the coaching staff assesses the squad and fine-tunes tactical plans.

After returning from South Korea, Vietnam will continue preparations in Hanoi before facing Myanmar in an international friendly on July 18 at Thai Nguyen Stadium. The match will provide the coaching staff with a final opportunity to evaluate the squad before Vietnam open their ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign away to Timor-Leste on July 24.

Nguyen Xuan Son is a Brazilian-born striker who became a Vietnamese citizen in September 2024 after five years playing in the V.League. He made an immediate impact for Vietnam, helping the team win the 2024 ASEAN Championship while claiming both the tournament's Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards, before suffering a serious leg injury in the final. He returned to action in 2026 and has re-established himself as a key player for the national team.

Dai Nam