Rafaelson

Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes, known mononymously as Rafaelson, was born on March 30, 1997, in Brazil. He is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the V.League 1 club Thép Xanh Nam Định. His journey in football began in his homeland, where he honed his skills before venturing abroad.

In 2018, Rafaelson took his talents overseas, experiencing stints in Japan and Denmark. However, it was in Vietnam, where he signed with Nam Định in 2020, that he truly flourished as a goalscorer. His remarkable performance in the V.League 1 saw him finish as the league's top scorer in both the 2023 and 2023–24 seasons.

Rafaelson's dedication to his craft and his impressive goal-scoring ability earned him dual citizenship in Vietnam after five years of residency, officially granted in September 2024. Shortly thereafter, he made his mark on the international stage, representing the Vietnam national team in the 2024 ASEAN Championship, where he scored a brace in his debut against Myanmar.

His contributions were pivotal in leading Vietnam to victory in the tournament, culminating in him being named the top goalscorer and receiving the best player award for his outstanding performances.