Having just returned to Vietnam with the U23 team, center-back Hieu Minh immediately went straight to the hospital.

After returning home with the Vietnam U23 team, central defender Nguyen Hieu Minh was taken straight to the hospital for further monitoring and treatment.

Defender Hieu Minh is expected to be out of action for 6 to 9 months. (Photo: VFF)

Central defender Nguyen Hieu Minh arrived back at Noi Bai International Airport ( Hanoi ) on the evening of January 24th with the Vietnam U23 team, concluding an emotional and impressive journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, a tournament where coach Kim Sang Sik's team won the Bronze Medal, marking a significant milestone as they reached the Top 3 for the second time in history.

Regarding the case of center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh – the player who unfortunately suffered a serious injury in the semi-final match against China U23 – as soon as the team arrived at the airport, the Orthopedic Trauma & Sports Medicine Center – Vinmec International General Hospital dispatched doctors and an ambulance to be on standby, taking Hieu Minh directly to the hospital for further monitoring and treatment.

Doctors took defender Hieu Minh straight to the hospital for further monitoring and treatment. (Photo: VFF)

Today (January 25th), doctors at Vinmec held an in-depth consultation. Unless there are any changes, the 2004-born central defender will undergo surgery to treat a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early next week.

The incident occurred in the 30th minute of the semi-final match against China U23, when Xiang Yuwang was clearing the ball near the goal line on Vietnam U23's side of the field. Nguyen Hieu Minh rushed out to intercept, resulting in a strong collision. After receiving first aid on the spot from the team's medical staff, Hieu Minh was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Comprehensive examinations including musculoskeletal ultrasound, X-rays, and MRI revealed that Nguyen Hieu Minh suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Upon returning to Vietnam, the player will be taken by the Vietnam Football Federation to the Vinmec Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center for a consultation with doctors to determine a treatment plan. For this type of ACL injury, the typical recovery time is expected to be between 6 and 9 months.

While it's true that injuries can happen to any player in football, the case of young, high-performing center-back Hieu Minh is a truly regrettable loss for the Vietnam U23 team and for PVF-CAND's personnel plans for the 2025-2026 V.League season.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/vua-tro-ve-nuoc-cung-u23-viet-nam-trung-ve-hieu-minh-lap-tuc-vao-thang-benh-vien-731239.html