Lee Kang-in
Lee in 2022
Personal information
Full name Lee Kang-in[1]
Date of birth (2001-02-19) 19 February 2001
Place of birth Incheon, South Korea
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Paris Saint-Germain
Number 19
Youth career
2009[2] Incheon United
2011[3] Flyings FC
2011–2017 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Valencia B 26 (4)
2018–2021 Valencia 44 (2)
2021–2023 Mallorca 66 (7)
2023– Paris Saint-Germain 10 (1)
International career‡
2017–2019 South Korea U20 16 (7)
2021– South Korea U23 15 (3)
2019– South Korea 20 (6)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Korea
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up2019 PolandTeam
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2022 HangzhouTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 January 2024
Lee Kang-in
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Gangin
McCune–ReischauerI Kangin
IPA[i.ɡaŋ.in] or [i] [kaŋ.in]

Lee Kang-in (Korean: 이강인; born 19 February 2001) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the South Korea national team.

A product of Valencia's youth academy, Lee made his professional debut for the club at the age of 17 in 2018, becoming the youngest South Korean footballer to debut professionally in Europe. In his debut season, he won the Copa del Rey, before making his UEFA Champions League debut in his second professional season. Lee joined Mallorca in 2021, where he established himself as one of Europe's top dribblers, before leaving Spain for French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

In 2019, Lee won the Asian Young Footballer of the Year, the same year that he won the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup's Golden Ball award. Lee's team finished runner-up during the event. He later made his senior debut for South Korea in September 2019. In 2022, Lee was selected in his nation's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Valencia

Lee joined Valencia's academy in July 2011. On 15 December 2017, he was called up to Valencia B (Mestalla). He had his debut on 21 December 2017, in a match with Deportivo Aragón, being substituted in the 82nd minute.

2018–19 season

Lee made his first team debut on 30 October 2018, starting and playing 83 minutes in a 2–1 win over Ebro in the Copa del Rey, becoming the youngest South Korean footballer to debut professionally in Europe.[4][5]

Lee made his La Liga debut on 12 January 2019, substituting in for Denis Cheryshev in the 86th minute in a 1–1 draw with Real Valladolid during 2018–19 season. At 17 years, 10 months, and 24 days, Lee became the second youngest player in the 18–19 La Liga after Ander Barrenetxea from Real Sociedad who debuted at the age of 16 years, 11 months, and 24 days. He also became the youngest ever non-Spanish and the first Asian league debutant for Valencia, as well as the fifth Korean to play in La Liga.[note 1][6]

On 30 January 2019, Lee officially joined the Valencia first-team, receiving jersey number 16.[7]

2019–20 season

On 17 September 2019, Lee made his UEFA Champions League debut as a late substitute for Rodrigo in a 1–0 win against Chelsea, becoming the youngest ever Korean to debut in the competition at the age of 18 years and 6 months, a record previously held by Jeong Woo-yeong. He also became the 5th youngest ever to debut for Los Ches in the same competition.[8] On 25 September 2019, he scored his first La Liga goal in a 3–3 draw against Getafe, to become the youngest non-Spanish to score for Valencia, aged 18 years and 219 days old, breaking the previous record of Mohamed Sissoko who scored in the 2003–04 UEFA Cup; and the third youngest ever, only behind Juan Mena and Fernando Gómez.[9][note 2] His record as the youngest non-Spanish goalscorer for Valencia was broken the following season by American teammate Yunus Musah.[11]

2020–21 season

On 13 September 2020, Lee became the youngest player, aged 19 years and 207 days, to assist two goals in a La Liga match in the 21st century, in a 4–2 win over Levante, breaking the previous record of Juan Mata in 2008, aged 20 years and 150 days.[12] Despite rejecting several renewal offers from the club throughout the year,[13] he featured regularly under Javi Gracia as the Che ended the campaign on a mid-table position.

After being on the transfer list during the entire pre-season, Lee terminated his contract with Valencia on 29 August 2021.[14]

Mallorca

On 30 August 2021, fellow La Liga club Mallorca confirmed the free transfer of Lee, signing on a four-year contract.[15]

During the 2022–23 season, Lee became one of the best dribblers in the Big Five European leagues by making the highest success rate of dribbles and the sixth highest number of successful dribbles.[16][17]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 8 July 2023, Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of Lee on a 5-year contract running through 2028, becoming the first ever South Korean to play for the club.[18] A transfer fee of €22 million euros was paid out to Mallorca after Lee passed his medical at the start of June.[19] His first appearance was on August 3rd, at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium in his native land, on a friendly summer pre-season exhibition game against the K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors defeated by the French 3-0. A unique jersey in collaboration with brand name PeaceMinusOne founded by K-Pop artist G-Dragon, was worn by all players at this occasion. The jersey had a special mention “Ici c’est Busan” which translate to “This is Busan” promoting South Korea like no other. He made his Ligue 1 debut in a 0–0 draw against Lorient at the Parc des Princes on 12 August.[20] On 25 October, Lee scored his first PSG goal, his first ever in the Champions League, in a 3–0 victory over AC Milan.[21] On 3 November, he scored his first goal in Ligue 1 in a 3–0 win over Montpellier.[22]

On 3 January 2024, he scored the opening goal in the 2023 Trophée des Champions final against Toulouse FC, going on to win Man of the Match[23].

International career

2019 U-20 World Cup

Lee was selected to play for the South Korea U-20 football team in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup and played in every group and knockout match, leading his team to a historic runner-up finish in the tournament and scoring two goals and four assists in seven games.[24] As a result, he received the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player.[25]

2022–23: World Cup debut, Asian Games gold and AFC Asian Cup

Lee received his first call up to the senior South Korea national football team in March 2019 for friendlies against Bolivia and Colombia, and became the 7th youngest to be in the South Korean national team. On 5 September 2019, Lee made his international debut in a 2–2 draw friendly match against Georgia as a starter.[26]

Lee was called up for friendlies in September 2022 just before the 2022 FIFA World Cup by showing his evolution on both side of the ball in La Liga. He only participated in team training without appearances in the friendlies,[27] but was selected for the 26-men World Cup team.[28] He assisted Cho Gue-sung's header with an accurate cross in the second group match against Ghana.[29]

From September to October in 2023, Lee was part of the South Korean under-23 team which won the Asian Games gold medal after a 2–1 victory over Japan in the final. The gold medal granted him an exemption from mandatory military service.[30] In a senior friendly against Tunisia just after the Asian Games, he led South Korea to a 4–0 victory by scoring two goals including a free-kick goal, which were his first and second goals for senior national team respectively.[31]

Lee was called up the South Korean squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[32] In their opening match against Bahrain, Lee scored two goals in a 3–1 victory.[33]

Media

In 2007, the six-year-old Lee was featured in the third season of the KBS N Sports reality football show Fly Shoot Dori (Korean: 날아라 슛돌이; meaning: Fly Shooting Kid).[34] After his exceptional performance, he passed through Yoo Sang-chul's youth academy and in 2009 joined the Incheon United FC U-12 youth team. Lee later attended Seokjeong Elementary School in Incheon and played for Flyings FC. In January 2011, he went to Spain under the recommendation of his youth team coach and took part in trials for the Villarreal CF and Valencia CF youth teams.

Personal life

He was born on 19 February 2001 in Incheon, the youngest of three children. His father Lee Woon-seong was a taekwondo instructor in Incheon and a big football fan (especially of the late Diego Maradona).[35]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 January 2024[36][37]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valencia B 2017–18 Segunda División B 111———111
2018–19 Segunda División B 153———153
Total 264———264
Valencia 2018–19 La Liga 30602[lower-alpha 2]0—110
2019–20 La Liga 172205[lower-alpha 3]000242
2020–21 La Liga 24031——271
Total 4421117000623
Mallorca 2021–22 La Liga 30140——341
2022–23 La Liga 36630——396
Total 66770——737
Paris Saint-Germain 2023–24 Ligue 1 101005[lower-alpha 3]11[lower-alpha 4]1163
Career total 146141811211117717

International

As of match played 15 January 2024[38]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea 201930
202020
202110
202240
202384
202422
Total206
As of match played 15 January 2024
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lee goal.[39]
List of international goals scored by Lee Kang-in
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
113 October 2023Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea15 Tunisia1–04–0Friendly
22–0
317 October 2023Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea16 Vietnam5–06–0Friendly
416 November 2023Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea17 Singapore5–05–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
515 January 2024Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar20 Bahrain2–13–12023 AFC Asian Cup
63–1

Honours

Valencia

Paris Saint-Germain

South Korea U20

South Korea U23

Individual

Notes

  1. ↑ After Lee Chun-soo in 2003 for Real Sociedad, Lee Ho-jin in 2006 for Racing Santander, Park Chu-young in 2012 for Celta Vigo, and Kim Young-gyu in 2013 for Almería
  2. ↑ On 1 November 2020, Yunus Musah broke Lee Kang-in's record, to become the youngest non-Spanish to score for Valencia, aged 17 years and 338 days.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Korea Republic (KOR)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 17. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ↑ 엑스포츠인터뷰 -슛돌이 3기 이강인을 만나다 (in Korean). Xportsnews. 11 May 2009.
  3. ↑ 슛돌이 이강인, 발렌시아 CF 유소년팀 입단 (in Korean). Starnews Korea. 6 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "'Valencia, Spain' debut ... 83 Cup of King Cup" (in Spanish). Telereport.com. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  5. ↑ "CD Ebro vs Valencia CF Live". LaLiga. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. ↑ "Valencia CF vs R. Valladolid CF Live" (in Spanish). La Liga. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Comunicado oficial I Kang In" (in Spanish). Valencia. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "Lee Kang-in of Valencia Makes Youngest Champions League Debut by Korean". The Chosun Ilbo. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "Lee Kang-in scores his first La Liga goal". The Korea JoongAng Daily. 26 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "Musah, gol y récord". Superdeporte (in Spanish). 1 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Yunus Musah, la última perla de la cantera che" [Yunus Musah, the last pearl of the che youth setup] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Valencia 4–2 Levante". Goal.com. 13 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "La venta de Kang-in Lee en enero, en la mesa de Peter Lim" [The sale of Kang-in Lee in January, on Peter Lim's desk] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT | Kang In Lee". Valencia CF. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Kang In Lee Joins RCD Mallorca on a free transfer". RCD Mallorca. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "Les 10 joueurs ayant réussis le plus de dribbles cette saison en championnat, le taux de réussite des dribbles et le ratio!". Twitter.com (in French). Data´Foot. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "La crème de la crème". Twitter.com. Real Mallorca. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Lee Kang-In signs for Paris Saint-Germain". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "PSG reach agreement for Kang-In Lee". BeSoccer. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Paris Saint-Germain V Lorient". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Paris Saint Germain 3–0 AC Milan". BBC Sport. 25 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Le PSG balaie Montpellier et devient provisoirement leader de la Ligue 1". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Trophée des Champions : Les meilleurs joueurs". Ligue1 (in French). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  24. ↑ [엠스플 축구] 지도자들 "이강인 '골든볼' 수상 대단하지만 걱정도 되는 게 사실" (in Korean). MBC SPORTS+. 17 June 2019.
  25. 1 2 "Lee, Lunin headline award winners at Poland 2019". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 15 June 2019. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019.
  26. ↑ "South Korea vs. Georgia - Football Match Summary - September 5, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  27. ↑ [9월 벤투호] '라리가 도움 1위' 이강인, 무력 시위 성공... 벤투까지 설득했다 (in Korean). Footballist. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  28. ↑ '안와골절' 손흥민, 월드컵 뛴다…이강인도 벤투호 승선 (in Korean). Money Today. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  29. ↑ "World Cup 2022 - South Korea 2-3 Ghana: Mohammed Kudus scores twice in pulsating encounter". Sky Sports. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  30. ↑ "PSG's Lee helps South Korea to third straight Asian Games gold". France 24. 7 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Jurgen Klinsmann earns first home win as coach of South Korea's national team". Fox Sports. 13 October 2023.
  32. ↑ "2023 AFC Asian Cup: Jurgen Klinsmann names 26-man South Korea squad". OneFootball. 28 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "Lee guides South Korea to 3-1 Asian Cup win over physical Bahrain". Reuters. 15 January 2024.
  34. ↑ "Meet Lee Kang-in – Valencia's South Korean starlet with an €80 million release clause". Goal.com. Goal.com. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  35. ↑ ""깡돌아 결승전서 골 기대할게"…이강인 외할머니 응원". news1.kr (in Korean). 15 June 2019.
  36. ↑ "Lee Kang-In". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "Kang-in Lee". SofaScore. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  38. ↑ "Lee Kang-in". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  39. ↑ "이강인 Lee Kangin". Korea Football Association. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  40. ↑ "Barcelona 1–2 Valencia". BBC Sport. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  41. ↑ https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match-direct/trophee-des-champions/2023/psg-toulouse-live/616857
  42. ↑ "Spirited comeback earns Ukraine first U-20 title". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 15 June 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019.
  43. ↑ "L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 11 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men) 2019: Lee Kang-in". The-AFC.com. AFC. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  45. ↑ 2019 KFA 시상식 개최...손흥민-지소연 올해의 선수. KFA.or.kr (in Korean). KFA. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  46. ↑ "Le #ButDuMois est signé Kang-in Lee". Twitter.com (in French). Ligue 1. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  47. ↑ "Trophée des Champions : Les meilleurs joueurs" (in French). Ligue 1. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
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