Lee Kang-In: The Journey of the Korean Messi

Lee Kang-In is an exciting player who has shown on the global stage with his magical left foot. He is adept at playing from midfield or the wide areas. His football journey has been greeted with fanfare and celebrity status.

From his youth career to his senior career, Kang-In’s potential has been clear to see. Winning the Golden Ball at the FIFA U20 World Cup put the South Korean in the same crowd as Lionel Messi who also won the award before writing his name on the annals of world football.

Join us at Footballers’ Biographies as we explore the ascent and future exploits of the South Korean as he continues to write his name in the annals of football history.

Player Profile – Lee Kang-In

Lee Kang-In is the 2019 Asian Young Footballer of the Year and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup’s Golden Ball winner who plays for PSG and the South Korean national team. Kang-In is a product of Valencia’s youth academy, having joined their ranks in 2012.

He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder but is adept at playing from the wings. His dribbling and body movements have earned him comparisons with former La Masia graduate Lionel Messi.

He has tasted victory with the national side, winning the 2022 Asian Games football competition. Lee also won the Copa de Rey with Valencia and the 2023 Trophée des Champions. Having mathematically secure the title, Lee Kang-In will become a Ligue 1 winner come May 19.

Player Profile Overview

The Early Life of Lee Kang-In

Lee Kang-In was born in Incheon as the youngest of three children. His father Lee Woon-seong was a taekwondo instructor and a passionate Diego Armando Maradona fan. Kang-in quickly developed his love for football from an early age.

He starred in a Korean TV football show called Shoot Dori at the age of just six. After his performance gained him prominence, He played for local youth sides before his dad relocated the family to Europe.

Lee Kang-In’s Style of Play

Kang-in is an exciting attacking midfielder who loves to influence the attacking gameplay from the middle of the park. He is quick on-the-ball and his pace allows him to drift to wide positions. He causes problems with his wicked accurate deliveries into the opposition box.

The diminutive South Korean is versatile and thrives with the ball on his feet. His vision is an asset and can perform the role of a playmaker brilliantly. Paris Saint-Germain has an exciting prospect in their squad with the arrival of the South Korean international.

Lee brings a lot of utility to the Paris Saint-Germain squad. He can play as a playmaker in the midfield and take up the No.10 position with two pivots behind him. His creativity is a strong suit due to his years of development in Spanish footballing culture.

Lee Kang-in is a brilliant technical player who can dribble out of tricky situations. He brings squad depth at PSG where winning multiple trophies is the minimum requirement. As the midfielder is only 22 years old, he has the potential to grow into a fabulous world-class player.

Youth Career

Lee joined the Incheon United U-12 youth team in 2009 and afterwards he played for Flyings FC. He caught the attention of Valencia, he went to Spain under the recommendation of his youth team coach. There he tried out for the youth teams of Villarreal and Valencia.

He joined the Valencia U12 side and impressing as they reached the final of a prestigious youth tournament. He scored with a direct free-kick to defeat the Borussia Dortmund U12 side. He easily grew through the ranks and made his debut for the Valencia Mestalla B team at just 16.

Senior Career

Lee Kang-In started his first team career with Valencia Mestalla B team. After his debut with the B side, he played more Segunda B games and scoried his first senior level goal in a 2-0 win versus Sabadell. His impressive performances saw Kang-In train with the senior squad regularly.

The South Korean made his first team debut against Ebro in a Copa del Rey tie as a starter. His debut for Valencia made him the youngest South Korean footballer to make his professional debut in Europe’s top 5 leagues.

Kang-In’s La Liga debut came during a 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid during the 2018-2019 season, replacing Denis Cheryshev in the 86th minute of the match. Lee became the youngest first Asian league debutant for Valencia and the fifth South Korean to play in La Liga.

On 30 January 2019, Lee officially joined the Valencia first team on the 30th of January 2019 and would wear the jersey number 16. Kang-In made his UEFA Champions League debut against Premier League giants Chelsea in a 1-0 win. He came on as a substitute for Rodrigo becoming the youngest South Korean to play in the competition.

Kang-In scored his first La Liga goal against Getafe in a 3–3 draw. His goal made him the youngest foreigner to score for Valencia. However, his record didn’t last long, as American teammate Yunus Musah became the youngest foreigner to score for Valencia the following season.

Kang-In’s Final Season with Los Ches

During the 2020-21 season, Lee Kang-In became the youngest player to create two assists in a La Liga match in the 21st century breaking the previous record set by Juan Mata in 2008.

After rejecting renewal offers from the club during the course of the season, he was a star performer for the Mestalla Outfit as the club finished the season in mid-table. Kang-In was transfer-listed during the 2021-22 pre-season and with no suitors, Kang-In terminated his contract with Valencia.

Kang-In’s Two-Year Stint With RCD Mallorca

After leaving Valencia, Kang-In joined on 30 August 2021. He signed for fellow midtable La Liga club RCD Mallorca confirmed the free transfer of Lee Kang-In, signing on a four-year contract.

Kang-In had a stellar 2022–23 season, that season he was one of the best dribblers in the Top 5 European leagues. He had the highest dribble success rate and the sixth-highest number of successful dribbles.

Playing With Mbappe For Paris Saint-Germain

After leaving RCD Mallorca, Kang-In signed for Ligue 1 club giants Paris Saint-Germain on a 5-year contract joining Kylian Mbappe in the French Capital. He became the first-ever South Korean to play for the club.

His PSG Ligue debut came in a 0–0 draw against Lorient at the Parc des Princes on 12 August. Kang-In scored his first PSG goal and his first goal ever in the Champions League tie with AC Milan.

Lee scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 3–0 victory over Montpellier. Kang-In won the man of the match during the 2023 Trophée des Champions final against Toulouse. He scored the opening goal in the 2–0 victory which won him his first title with the club.

International career

Lee Kang-In played for the U20 and U23 national sides before playing for the senior national side. He represented the South Korea U-20 football team in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Kang-In played in every match in the competition.

He led South Korea on a historic run where they eventually lost in the finals. Kang-In finished the tournament with two goals and four assists, winning the Golden Ball award. Kang-In made his international debut on 5 September 2019, when he started in a 2–2 draw friendly match against Georgia.

Kang-In was selected as part of the 26-man squad for the FIFA 2022 World Cup. He created an assist Cho Gue-sung’s header with an accurate cross in the second group match against Ghana. Their World Cup journey was cut short by Brazil in the round of 16.

Lee Kang-In’s 2022 Asian Games Triumph and the 2023 AFC Cup

Kang-In and the South Korean men’s national team successfully defended the Gold medal in the football competition at the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. Although Kang-In failed to score, he was instrumental in the team playing flawlessly during the group stages.

The South Koreans won all their matches and scored 16 goals en route to the knockout stages without conceding a single goal. Like in the previous Asian Games, they defeated Japan 2-1 to win the Gold medal for their country twice in a row. This victory exempted all members of the squad from mandatory military service.

Lee Kang-In scored his first senior international goals for South Korea in a friendly against Tunisia just after the Asian Games. He scored twice in the 4-nil victory which included a sumptuous free-kick.

Kang-In was called up to the South Korean squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup scheduled to take place in Qatar. Lee began the tournament in red-hot form. He scored two goals in a 3–1 victory over Bahrain and scored a free-kick and an assist in the 3–3 draw with Malaysia.

Lee continued his impressive performances for South Korea, he created the highest number of key passes and successful crosses until the quarter-final stage.  However, Kang-In’s tournament was cut short by Jordan in the semi-finals.

After South Korea was eliminated, the media reported dressing room unrest. The reports mentioned that Kang-In had clashed with veteran players. The players included the national team including captain Son Heung-min.

Fanfare and Comparison with Messi

As the first South Korean to play for Valencia and PSG, Lee Kang-In is gaining more popularity after leaving South Korea at an early age. Since signing for PSG, his popularity has soared. His presence at the Parisian club has helped PSG corner the Asian market. Furthermore, his shirt sales are close to rivalling that of Kylian Mbappe for the club.

Kang-In has been compared to World Cup Winner Lionel Messi by fans and media pundits alike. According to football legend David Ginola, “As a player, when we look at him, when we look at images of him, even when he played in Mallorca, there is a left foot that still looks a lot like the left foot of Messi.”

Ginola continued, “I’m talking about how to move on the ground. The way to always be offbeat when he takes support with his left foot, we find gestures and movements that Messi made.”

The Personal Life of Lee Kang-In

Kang-In was a child celebrity, after he took part in reality TV football show Shoot Dori at the age of just six. He celebrity status has followed him throughout his career. From Spain to France, his reputation continues to soar, in Paris, He is among the top shirt sellers for the club.

Lee was exempted from mandatory military service after winning the 2022 Asian Games in October 2023. He is also rumoured to be dating South Korean actress Lee Na-Eun.

Conclusion

The South Korean is one of the best footballing exports from Asia, still only 21, the talent midfielder has a lot of time to make more marks on the world of football.

Join Footballers’ Biographies as we document the adventures of Lee Kang-In, as he continues to leave an indelible mark in the history of football.