As of the afternoon of January 11, Xuan Son had received an impressive 94.55% of the votes in the Best Forward category, far outpacing Thailand’s Supachok Sarachat, who garnered just 2.79%.

Other nominees included Vietnam’s Tien Linh, Timor Leste’s Joao Pedro, Thailand’s Suphanat Meanta and Patrik Gustavsson, and Singapore’s Faris Ramli and Shawal Anuar.

Xuan Son’s extraordinary performance throughout the tournament solidified his place as a key player for the Vietnam national team, earning widespread admiration from fans and critics alike.

Controversy in Best Goal poll

In the Best Goal category, Supachok’s goal, which gave Thailand a 2-1 lead in the second leg of the final, controversially led the poll with 77.89% of the votes, despite criticism over its perceived lack of sportsmanship. Xuan Son’s goal ranked second with 21.75%.

In the Best Goalkeeper poll, Vietnam’s Dinh Trieu has unsurprisingly taken the lead with 96.76% of the votes. Dinh Trieu was previously honored as the Best Goalkeeper during the post-final award ceremony after recording three clean sheets in seven matches.

The Best Defender category also sees strong representation from Vietnam, with Do Duy Manh leading with 80.75% of the votes, followed by Bui Tien Dung with 15.81%. Both players delivered exceptional performances, playing pivotal roles in Vietnam’s defensive success throughout the tournament.

In the Best Midfielder category, Vietnam’s players are dominating once again. Hoang Duc leads with 70.98%, followed by Quang Hai (18.87%) and Hai Long (8.95%).

The overwhelming support for Vietnamese players across multiple categories underscores their stellar performance in the tournament and the fans’ appreciation for their contributions.

Vietnam’s triumph at the 2024 ASEAN Cup has not only reaffirmed their dominance in Southeast Asia but also showcased the depth and talent of the squad.

Dai Nam