Another U23 Vietnamese player suffers a severe injury, out for the entire season

Hồ Văn Cường suffered a major injury in the training session ahead of the Hanoi versus SLNA game.

Just as news about Nguyễn Thái Sơn’s ligament injury was settling, Vietnamese football faces another similar case. Previously, the U23 midfielder had only played about 20 minutes for Ninh Bình FC before having to leave the field due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Ironically, he did not experience any heavy contact. Prior to this, Thái Sơn had endured a packed schedule at SEA Games 33 and the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals, consistently starting matches with high intensity.

Recently, fans received more bad news as Hồ Văn Cường also suffered a severe injury during training before the match between Sông Lam Nghệ An and Hanoi FC. The defender born in 2003 was injured without any collision, and tests revealed a complete tear of the knee ligament.

With this type of injury, Văn Cường will likely need surgery and face at least 9 months off the field. This is a long enough period for a player to lose form and possibly impact his career. For SLNA, the loss is even more severe as the Nghệ An club lacks squad depth, especially at the right-back position.

Before this setback, Văn Cường was considered a reliable and experienced figure despite his young age. He developed through the PVF academy, then returned home and quickly secured a starting spot. The 2022–2023 period marked significant progress as he showed endurance, speed, and effective attacking support.

Consistent performances earned Văn Cường the attention of coach Philippe Troussier, who gave him opportunities in youth teams and opened the door to the Vietnam national team. However, under Kim Sang-sik’s leadership, he gradually lost his place and was even excluded from plans before the U23 Southeast Asia Championship, causing his development to stall.

The consecutive injuries of Thái Sơn and Văn Cường have caused concern among the public. The fact that many young players suffer ligament tears without contact highlights the risks from excessive match and training loads. Without proper adjustments, Vietnamese football may continue losing key talents just as they reach their career peak.