Vietnam’s Brazil-born striker Rafaelson a key threat against Lions in Asean C’ship semi-finals

SINGAPORE – Good players are worth the wait. That was why Vietnam included striker Rafaelson in their Asean Championship squad despite knowing that he cannot be fielded in their first three group games.

On his much-anticipated international debut on Dec 21, the Brazil-born striker more than justified that call-up.

Adding samba flair to the Golden Star Warriors, he scored two goals and created two more as hosts Vietnam thrashed Myanmar 5-0 to top Group B and set up the two-legged semi-finals against Group A runners-up Singapore.

The first leg will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Dec 26, and the second leg at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho province, 80km north-west of Hanoi, three days later.

Now also known as Nguyen Xuan Son, the 27-year-old’s application to become a Vietnam citizen in August was approved the following month, but he fulfilled Fifa’s five-year residency requirement to play for an adopted country only on Dec 20.

Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik said: “Xuan Son played with all his heart for the Vietnamese national team. It proved to be worth (waiting for him to be) wearing this uniform.”

Rafaelson, who received a perfect 10 rating on football statistics website Sofascore, said of his debut: “It was a crazy and amazing night. My family is here, and the fans know I love how they shout and support me all the way. I feel very happy for this special moment in my life. The atmosphere was very good, and I’ll never forget this beautiful night.”

He added: “This was my first game for Vietnam, we won and it was a great job. We played very well, followed the plan of the coaches, and showed everything we did in training. I didn’t think it was difficult to settle into my first game, because I have played here for a long time. The players are all very good guys, they always give me support.”

Asked about their semi-final date with the Lions, he said: “We have a good connection, and the team have a lot of quality players.

“We just enjoy, play well and don’t think too much about Singapore. We just think about ourselves, prepare, train and recover well, and just go forward with the plan of the coach.”

Rafaelson already has the experience of scoring at the Jalan Besar Stadium, where he grabbed Nam Dinh’s first goal in the 3-3 draw against Tampines Rovers in an AFC Champions League Two group game in October.

Tampines coach Gavin Lee, who is also the Lions’ assistant coach, noted: “He can play as a target man-type or help link up play, so he’s not easy to deal with.

“At Tampines, we have got first-hand experience (of him), so our job now is to give our national players the same kind of information that we knew and prepare them as best as possible.

“It’s always two ways. One, at a more individual level, the players have to be aware of how we can defend him in the best possible manner. At the same time, at the team level, we have to cut the type of supply that he enjoys.”

Born in Pirapemas in north-east Brazil, Rafaelson came through the youth ranks of Bahia and Vitoria before he joined Japan’s Vegalta Sendai on loan in 2018 and moved to Denmark’s Naestved the following year.

Before he turned 23 in 2020, he arrived in Vietnam to sign for Nam Dinh, followed by stints with Da Nang and Binh Dinh in the following years, as he notched a respectable tally of 37 goals and eight assists in 75 games.

But the powerful 1.85m centre forward, who is adept with both feet, truly exploded into form after he returned to Nam Dinh in August 2023, going on to register 46 goals and eight assists in just 40 games.

In the 2023-24 season, he struck 31 times to surpass the top scorer’s record of 25 goals set by Vietnamese legend Le Huynh Duc in 1996 and help his club win only their second V.League title.

While he struggled at the start with Vietnam’s climate, Rafaelson has since settled down with his wife and two sons joining him.

He said: “This country has given me everything, given me a home, support, friends. My family and I love the culture here and I just want to give my talent to help the national team.”

According to local reports, no player without Vietnamese blood had represented the country in official tournaments before Rafaelson’s bow.

There have been foreign-born players with no Vietnamese heritage who have been naturalised after playing for several years in the country. These include Fabio dos Santos (also known as Phan Van Santos) and Kesley Alves (Huynh Kesley) of Brazil, Nigeria’s Samson Kayode Olaleye (Hoang Vu Samson) and Argentinian Gaston Merlo (Do Merlo).

But they have either featured only in friendly matches for Vietnam or played as locals only for their Vietnamese clubs.

In keeping with the mentality shift in world football, however, Vietnam is viewing Rafaelson’s Asean Championship participation as a pilot case of assimilating naturalised talent.

His conversion is not without controversy, as he shared how he was taunted by an opponent.

Rafaelson said: “During the match, Myanmar’s No. 4 player (Soe Moe Kyaw) told me, ‘You are not a Vietnamese player’.

“I replied, ‘I love this country’. For five years with my family, I thought this place was my hometown and felt comfortable.

“I practise (the Vietnam national anthem) every day. I respect this country and its fans. Whenever I have time, I study Vietnamese. We will be able to talk to everyone in the next two or three years.”