Lee Kang-in ends PSG debut with three titles after French Cup win

Football

Published: 26 May. 2024, 10:30 Updated: 26 May. 2024, 12:28

Lee Kang-in ends PSG debut with three titles after French Cup win

Lee Kang-in lifts the French Cup trophy after Paris Saint-Germain beat Lyon 2-1 in the final at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in France on Saturday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in ended his debut season in France with three titles as Paris Saint-Germain won the French Cup final after a 2-1 win over Lyon on Saturday.

Lee was substituted in for Bradley Barcola in the 85th minute at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in France after the score came at 2-1.

Osumane Dembele gave PSG a lead with a header in the 22nd minute, before Fabian Ruiz exploited a ball that goalkeeper Lucas Perri failed to clear and extended the lead in the 34th minute.

Jake O’Brien put one back for Lyon with a header in the 55th minute, but his side missed the rest of their opportunities for an equalizer, suffering a 2-1 loss in the end.

As for PSG, Saturday’s victory marked their 15th French Cup title and third trophy of the 2023-24 season after the Trophee des Champions and Ligue 1 — sweeping domestic titles.

Paris Saint-Germain celebrate winning the French Cup at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in France on Saturday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The Ligue 1 champions also had an impressive run in the Champions League, reaching the semifinals where they lost to Borussia Dortmund, who are set to face Real Madrid in the final.

PSG’s success comes in Lee’s first season at the club, where he has established himself as a regular midfielder pick and recorded five goals and five assists across all competitions this season.

Lee, 23, started his career at Valencia in 2018 and moved to Mallorca in 2021, before joining PSG last summer.

He is a versatile midfielder with fancy footwork that outwits defenders, and his impressive accuracy gets the ball up to the front. He has long been a fan favorite back home, where he has been seen as the future of Korean football since starring on the TV show “Fly Shoot Dori” at just six years old.

He has also been a regular pick on the national team, having made 27 caps since his senior national team debut in 2019.

Lee can pursue his career at PSG uninterrupted as he earned military exemption last fall by winning a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games with the U-23 national team.

His next season at PSG, however, could look different in the absence of the club’s all-time top scorer Kylian Mbappe. Saturday’s final was Mbappe’s last game for PSG, as he said on May 10 that he would leave the club at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, although he has yet to say which team he will join.

Lee, who plays as both a central midfielder and winger at PSG, could play in an offensive role more often at the club next season in lieu of Mbappe.

Lee also has clinical finishing skills and the ability to read space in a quick manner, which were visible in his goals for PSG.

Until the next season rolls around, Lee will have Korean national team duty, with the squad set to play two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Singapore and China in June.

Lee and countrymen based in Europe will have a relatively relaxed schedule this summer compared to their European and South American teammates heading to the Euros and Copa America.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]