A series of good deeds, literally. In the moment of lifting the championship trophy once again, Lee Kang-in made another good deed, raising expectations for his future activities.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) achieved a 3-1 comeback victory against AJ Auxerre on the 18th (Korean time) at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, during the 34th round of the 2024-2025 season of Ligue 1. As a result, PSG, which had already secured the league title early, finished the season with 84 points (26 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses).

Under the direction of coach Luis Enrique, PSG started with a 4-3-3 formation. Bradly Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma were the starters. Lee Kang-in sat on the bench.

As it was the league's final match, PSG deployed their best lineup. With the upcoming match against Stade Reims for the Coupe de France final on the 25th, they had the luxury of fielding many regular players. They aimed to win in front of their home fans and celebrate the championship.

The first goal belonged to Auxerre. In the 30th minute of the first half, Loïc Perrin quickly executed a free-kick from a long distance. The ball was received by Lamine Syneye, who faced the goalkeeper one-on-one and calmly finished with his left foot.

PSG lamented their misfortune with the goalpost. In a free-kick opportunity in the 35th minute, Vitinha feigned a cross, only for Mendes to suddenly unleash a left-foot shot. Although it was an unexpected shot, the ball struck the goalpost. The first half ended with Auxerre leading 1-0.

PSG, who were pushing hard, brought the match back to equilibrium. In the 14th minute of the second half, Kvaratskhelia received a pass from Ruiz and unleashed a powerful shot. The ball pierced the corner of the goal. Coach Enrique immediately substituted in Désiré Doué, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Senny Mayulu in an attempt to turn the match around.

Captain Marquinhos scored the comeback goal. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Marquinhos headed in a corner kick delivered by Mendes. PSG utilized all their substitution cards by bringing in Lucas Belardo and Gonzalo Hamus in the 30th minute of the second half. Naturally, Lee Kang-in's absence was confirmed.

PSG sealed the victory. In the 35th minute of the second half, Hamus's penalty kick was stopped by the goalkeeper, but in the 43rd minute, Kvaratskhelia evaded the goalkeeper and shook the net, scoring a multi-goal. The match ended with PSG's comeback victory.

Lee Kang-in ultimately remained on the bench. He was overlooked by Coach Enrique in the last match, resulting in a disappointing conclusion to the league season. It was a day to reaffirm the reason behind the hot summer transfer rumors. Currently, Lee Kang-in is linked with Premier League teams, including Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Manchester United.

Lee Kang-in got off to a pleasant start at the beginning of the season. He quickly accumulated offensive points while even playing as a "false 9" and eyed his career high early on. Showcasing his versatility, he demonstrated why he is Coach Enrique's favorite.

However, the atmosphere changed in the second half of the season. Kvaratskhelia secured a starting position as a winger, and Doué rose quickly to a quasi-regular level. In the midfield, the combination of Ruiz, Vitinha, and Neves firmly established itself. Having lost his standing, Lee Kang-in virtually disappeared from the most important stage, the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

Even after a long time playing the full 90 minutes in the league, Lee Kang-in was not positioned in his usual role. He had to take on unfamiliar duties as a defensive midfielder and left wingback. Ultimately, Lee Kang-in could not add as many offensive points as expected, with his final league statistics ending at 30 matches, 6 goals, and 6 assists. This ties his career high from his time at Mallorca.

Although Lee Kang-in did not play in the final match, he smiled brightly during the championship ceremony held after that day’s game. Wearing a championship medal around his neck, he raised his arms in excitement at the moment Marquinhos held the trophy high. This marks his sixth trophy since joining PSG. Moreover, a heartwarming episode was shared.

On that day, Lee Kang-in warmly welcomed a photojournalist from FA Photo. He personally informed the club to invite the journalist to the pitch to lift the championship trophy and took photos together, expressing his joy. It raises the question of whether Lee Kang-in, who continues to create such good deeds, can contribute to achieving the remarkable accomplishment of a quadruple in the final trophy.

Meanwhile, PSG is challenging for a "quadruple" (four titles) this season. PSG has already lifted two trophies. They extended their record for the most Ligue 1 titles to 13 by achieving a fourth consecutive league championship and claimed victory over AS Monaco in the Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup) last January.

First, PSG will clash with Reims in the Coupe de France final on the 25th at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. PSG is aiming for their 16th championship in this competition. The most significant stage is undoubtedly the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan. PSG and Inter will face off for the "Big Ear" (UCL trophy) on June 1 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. If PSG ascends to the top, they will achieve their first UCL title in club history, fulfilling a long-held desire.

It remains to be seen whether Lee Kang-in, who created both trophies and good deeds simultaneously, can establish his prime at the next big club.

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