President Luong Cuong has signed a decision to award the Labor Order to Vietnam's national men's football team and several players, including Nguyen Xuan Son.

The national football team received the First-Class Labor Order in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

Additionally, six players from the team were awarded the Third-Class Labor Order. They include Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Hoang Duc, and Nguyen Dinh Trieu.

At a ceremony this afternoon, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented these prestigious awards on behalf of the Party and State leadership to the team and its members.

This historic recognition comes as the national football team returned to Vietnam with their first-ever ASEAN Cup victory achieved abroad.

The team concluded the tournament undefeated, with seven wins and one draw, setting a record for the most wins (seven) in a single ASEAN Cup competition across the event’s 29-year history.

Vietnam scored 21 goals during the 2024 ASEAN Cup, equaling the tournament’s record for most goals scored, previously set in 2002. For the first time, a Vietnamese player, Nguyen Xuan Son, secured both the Top Scorer and Best Player awards at the same tournament. Goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu also received the Best Goalkeeper award.

Profiles of key players honored

Nguyen Xuan Son (birth name Rafaelson): The Brazilian-born striker, born in 1997, became a Vietnamese citizen in September. Despite suffering a fibula and tibia fracture in the second leg of the final, he scored seven goals and provided two assists, earning both the tournament’s Top Scorer and Best Player titles.

Do Duy Manh: Born in 1996, Duy Manh was part of the U23 team that finished as runners-up at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in Changzhou, China. The 2024 ASEAN Cup marked his debut as the national team captain.

Nguyen Dinh Trieu: The 1991-born goalkeeper emerged as a standout player for Vietnam during the 2024 ASEAN Cup, earning the Best Goalkeeper award.

Nguyen Hoang Duc: Born in 1998, Hoang Duc is a star of Vietnamese football and a two-time winner of the Vietnam Golden Ball award (2021, 2023). He was also named the Best Player of the V-League in 2023.

Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh: These two veterans have consistently contributed to Vietnam's success across numerous major tournaments, helping secure the team’s highest achievements in recent years.

Tran Thuong