The Southeast Asian U23 champion brings extremely sad news to Vietnamese fans.

Ho Van Cuong has sustained a torn ligament and will be sidelined for the rest of 2026.

Injuries are what every professional player fears most, and Ho Van Cuong is now facing the biggest challenge of his career. The defender, born in 2003, has been diagnosed with a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, requiring surgery and a lengthy recovery process. It is expected that he will not return to the pitch until the end of 2026.

This news comes as a real shock to fans of SLNA as well as Vietnamese football. At just 23, Van Cuong was entering the most crucial phase of his career development. However, instead of continuing to prove himself on the field, he will now spend many months on treatment and rehabilitation.

In fact, Ho Van Cuong has not played since the match against Becamex TP.HCM in round 11 of the V.League on November 9, 2025. After that, an injury occurred during training, forcing the defender to take an extended break. Subsequent MRI results showed that his anterior cruciate ligament had completely torn—one of the most severe injuries for a football player.

Van Cuong's absence leaves a huge gap for SLNA. The Nghe An-based club loses a fast full-back with effective attacking support and always plays with great passion. At a time when the team needs game-changing players on the right flank, the void he leaves will not be easy to fill.

Before getting injured, Ho Van Cuong was regarded as one of the most promising full-backs in Vietnamese football. He contributed to Vietnam U23's victory at the 2022 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and also won a bronze medal at the 32nd SEA Games. These achievements highlight the immense development potential of the player from Nghe An.

Still, Van Cuong's career lies ahead of him. Many players have overcome ligament injuries to come back stronger, and SLNA fans have every reason to hope the same will happen for the 23-year-old defender. With determination, perseverance, and a scientific recovery plan, Ho Van Cuong still has a chance to return and continue pursuing his big goals in the future.