Narratives of Naturalization of Foreign-Born Football Players in Vietnamese Mainstream Media: The Critical Case Study on Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes

Football in Vietnam functions as more than entertainment; it is a cultural arena where nationalism and collective identity are articulated. In recent years, the naturalization of foreign-born athletes has emerged as both a contentious and strategic policy to enhance national team competitiveness. This article critically examines Vietnamese mainstream media framing of naturalized footballers through intersecting narratives of heroism, symbolic boundaries, and authenticity. The case of Brazilian striker Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes, who assumed the Vietnamese name Nguyễn Xuân Son upon his naturalization in 2024, serves as a focal point. Drawing on 62 articles published between 2020 and 2025, the study employs framing and critical discourse analysis to trace shifts before and after his naturalization. Findings show a recalibration of heroic narratives: media shifted from emphasizing patriotism and sacrifice toward highlighting performance and talent. Yet, symbolic boundary-making persists—naturalized players are celebrated for contributions but marked as “conditional insiders.” Authenticity is increasingly tied to visible loyalty, such as adopting Vietnamese names or singing the national anthem, rather than ancestry. These patterns highlight the dual role of Vietnamese media in broadening and policing national belonging, situating naturalized athletes as both pragmatic assets and symbolic figures in identity formation.