Hai is currently the U-22 team’s midfielder and captain.

During a race with a defender in the match against Singapore on December 3, Quang Hai injured his left thigh and had to leave the game at the 23-minute mark, Tuoi Tre reports. The next morning, the midfielder was sent to Manila Doctors Hospital for an MRI scan, which showed a tear in Hai’s back thigh muscle and groin.

According to doctors at the hospital, these types of injuries typically need two to four weeks to heal. The team’s coaching board has confirmed that Hai won’t play in the team's match against Thailand today.

The match against Thailand, which results in a tie, is the U-22 team’s last game in the group stage. With this result, the U22 team will advance to the semifinal along with Indonesia, who defeated Laos. 

Hai is not currently being treated in a hospital, but by the Vietnam team’s doctor, Choi Ju-young. Although it is unlikely that Hai will be able to join any of the remaining SEA Games matches, Ju-young said that if his recovery goes well, there might be a chance that the star footballer could play in the last match if the team makes it to the finals.

[Photo via Thanh Nien]