Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Lee Kang-in (24) released a photo embracing the big ear trophy.
PSG played Inter Milan in the final match of the 2024-2025 season of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) on Nov. 1 at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, winning 5-0. It was the first time in 55 years since its founding in 1970 that PSG won the big ear (UCL trophy).
According to European football statistics company Opta, PSG is the first team to win the UCL final by a score difference of five goals or more.
This season, PSG swept the French Ligue 1, Trophée des Champions, and Coupe de France, achieving a domestic treble. They also conquered Europe, completing a quadruple.
On that day, Lee Kang-in was named on the bench, waiting for a call from PSG coach Luis Enrique. However, he ultimately did not get to play. PSG exhausted all five substitution cards in the 39th minute of the second half, but Lee Kang-in's name was not called.
In the past, when playing for Valencia in Spain, Lee Kang-in made his UCL debut in September 2019 against Chelsea.
After moving to Mallorca in 2021, Lee Kang-in had been away from the UCL stage.
Just before last season, Lee Kang-in came to PSG and returned to the UCL stage against Borussia Dortmund in September 2023.
And after two seasons with PSG, he finally lifted the UCL trophy.
Lee Kang-in became the second Korean player to win the UCL after Park Ji-sung.
Park Ji-sung was part of the winning squad in the 2007-2008 season with Manchester United, but he did not participate in the final. He later appeared in two more finals (2008-2009, 2010-2011), but Manchester United finished as runners-up at that time.
Son Heung-min also made it to the final stage with Tottenham in the 2018-2019 season but has not been connected to the trophy.
Lee Kang-in's playing time has noticeably decreased in the second half of this season. Rumors of a potential transfer seeking a new place to play are currently strong.
Amid this situation, there was an analysis that Lee Kang-in’s chances of playing in this ‘most important’ UCL final were low, and the prediction turned out to be accurate.
However, the fact that Lee Kang-in is part of PSG remains unchanged.
Lee Kang-in, wearing the UCL medal, enjoyed the joy of victory with a bright expression. He also took a commemorative photo with a remarkable pose.
Lee Kang-in shared a photo holding the big ear trophy on his social media account, commemorating PSG's first UCL victory with the caption, "a trophy that will remain in history."
With a winning DNA, Lee Kang-in has already lifted his eighth trophy in his professional career.
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