Just ten days after Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) and Tottenham Hotspur won the UEFA Europa League, Lee Kang-in and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) rose to the top of the UEFA Champions League. The congratulatory atmosphere did not last long. In the comments section of social media, a heated debate among fandoms emerged about 'who is greater?'
PSG played against Inter Milan on the 1st (Korea time) at the Fußball Arena Munich in Germany and achieved a 5-0 victory in the 2024-2025 season UEFA Champions League final. With this victory, PSG lifted their first UEFA Champions League trophy in the club's history, and Lee Kang-in was also included as a member of the winning team, although he did not play in the final. Nonetheless, his team’s ascension to the top of Europe was a historic moment in itself.
Some Korean soccer fans criticized Lee Kang-in's 'non-participation victory,' saying, 'There was no substantial contribution,' and 'Can receiving a trophy as a bench member be considered a career accomplishment?' They emphasized in comparison to Son Heung-min's Europa League title, stating, 'Son Heung-min participated as a substitute in the final and had symbolic significance as captain.'
In response, opposing fans refuted, 'Lee Kang-in played during the Champions League group and knockout stages and contributed as a rotation member of the team,' and 'Should all injured players without participation records be excluded from achievements?' Some added, 'The significance of winning the Europa League and the Champions League is fundamentally different,' leading to an unyielding exchange from both sides.
Immediately after PSG's victory, soccer content creation accounts, both domestically and internationally, quickly spread the news of PSG's triumph on social media. In the comment sections, Korean fans left embarrassing remarks as they belittled Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min.
In the comments section of such posts, responses clashed with sarcasm such as 'Son Heung-min is a real champion, Lee Kang-in is a ride-along champion' and 'If it’s a Champions League title, just keep quiet.' It has truly become a meaningless war of attrition.
Despite both players having meaningful seasons with four championships (PSG) and major trophy achievements (Tottenham) including domestic league and cup tournaments, it appears that these accomplishments have become a subject of comparison among fans.
Some voices are calling for calm, stating, 'Whether it’s Lee Kang-in or Son Heung-min, the fact that a Korean player lifted a trophy in a European tournament is a significant event in football history.' Many fans express disappointment at the atmosphere leaning more towards comparison than celebration and discord rather than joy.
With two Korean players having historic seasons in Europe in different ways, it is now a time for perspective that emphasizes 'everyone is remarkable' rather than 'who is greater?'
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