BREAKING: Vietnamese Futsal Golden Ball winner unexpectedly returns just 2 months after retiring

2020 Vietnamese Futsal Golden Ball winner Minh Tri makes a surprising comeback to compete for Thai Son Nam, even though he declared his retirement not long ago.

After more than two months of retirement due to persistent injuries,Nguyen Minh Tri has unexpectedly decided to return to professional play. The appearance of the 2020 Vietnamese Futsal Golden Ball winner on Thai Son Nam Ho Chi Minh City's roster for the second half of the 2026 National Futsal Championship quickly became a focal point of fan attention.

Currently, Thai Son Nam Ho Chi Minh City is facing considerable difficulties. After the first five matchdays, the team led by owner Tu has lost its top position on the standings and currently sits in third place, behind Thai Son Bac and Sahako. Additionally, the long-term injury absences of key players Tran Nhat Trung and Chu Van Tien have significantly weakened the squad of the reigning champions.

In that context, Minh Tri's return is seen as a key addition to the attack. With his wealth of experience and composure honed through years of high-level competition, the striker from Long An is expected to help the coaching staff solve the personnel puzzle at the pivot position, while also boosting the team's motivation in the championship race.

Sharing about his comeback decision, Minh Tri said he received an offer from assistant coach Tran Van Vu when the team was facing a personnel shortage. Additionally, Mr. Tran Anh Tu facilitated his quick reintegration by providing a training regimen and match rhythm at the club. Shortly thereafter, Thai Son Nam Ho Chi Minh City officially confirmed the news on the team's media channels.

In fact, the former Vietnamese futsal national team player had been training with his teammates for over a week at the Chanh Hung Futsal Stadium before being registered to play. Although he had not been playing professionally recently, Minh Tri maintained his fitness by participating in amateur matches. For this return, he will wear the number 15 jersey instead of his familiar number 8, as the old number now belongs to young player Nguyen Hoang Quan.

Speaking about his current physical condition, Minh Tri humorously said that his legs have recovered considerably, and what worries him most is having to compete with the younger generation of players. Born in 1996, Minh Tri is regarded as one of the legends of Vietnamese futsal, having participated in both the 2016 and 2021 Futsal World Cups, while also owning many major titles, most notably the Vietnamese Futsal Golden Ball award in 2020.