How a footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son'

Faced with a falling birth rate and brain drain, Vietnam is trying to woo overseas talent by easing citizenship laws

- Nga Pham

HANOI - As the final whistle blew at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium in January, and cheers of victory erupted for Vietnam's third Asean Championship title, the star of the show - Brazilian-born striker Rafaelson Fernandes, also known as Nguyen Xuan Son - was noticeably absent, having been stretchered away earlier due to a serious leg injury.

But his heroics had already lit the path to triumph: The 1.85m-tall striker powered his way to seven goals in his international debut earning him the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards at the end of South-east Asia's top international football tournament, and winning him more new fans in his adopted country.

"I am blessed to become a Vietnamese citizen," Son, 28, told The Straits Times in July from Bahia, Brazil, where he was undergoing rehabilitation. He is expected to resume training in September and return to action in early 2026.

Born in Maranhao state in northeastern Brazil, the professional footballer moved to Vietnam in December 2019 and signed with local premier club Nam Dinh FC the following year. Less than five years later, he was a naturalised Vietnamese citizen representing the national team, just one of two to do so.

"I feel such a connection with the people in Vietnam," he said. "I believe my heart is Vietnamese. I play for the team like a (true) Vietnamese person."

Granting citizenship to foreign-born talent like Son is part of the government's broader effort to modernise the country and attract investments.

Vietnam amended its nationality law effective from July 1, 2025, easing the path to citizenship primarily to attract skilled foreign workers and boost the economy. The changes remove requirements like language proficiency and minimum residency for certain applicants, particularly those with valuable skills or contributions to Vietnam, such as scientists and top-level athletes.