Vietnamese national team forward Bui Vi Hao has been diagnosed with a torn ankle ligament and is expected to be out of action for 6 to 8 months, ruling him out of all matches for Binh Duong FC, the U22 Vietnam squad, and the national team for the rest of 2025.

The injury occurred during a training session ahead of Binh Duong’s quarterfinal clash against Ninh Binh in the 2024/25 National Cup. Vi Hao twisted his ankle while executing a sudden turn. Initially, doctors suspected a simple sprain, but swelling and fluid around the joint delayed proper imaging.

On March 31, the striker underwent an MRI in Ho Chi Minh City, which revealed a more serious diagnosis: a complete rupture of the ankle ligament.

Vi Hao will undergo surgery in the coming days, followed by a lengthy recovery period. This means the Binh Duong forward will miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season, the Vietnamese national team’s match against Malaysia in June, the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September, and is at serious risk of missing the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, defender Ly Duc was also injured during the quarterfinal match against The Cong Viettel. After undergoing scans in Pleiku, he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 ligament sprain, not a serious injury. The 1.82m-tall centre-back will need at least three weeks of rest before returning to training.

As a result, Ly Duc will likely miss 3 to 4 V-League matches in the second half of the season. However, if his recovery progresses well, he may still be called up by head coach Kim Sang Sik for the U22 or senior national team training camp at the end of May.

Dai Nam