Although he did not participate in the final match, Lee Kang-in (24, PSG) is a player who contributed to creating the stage of Europe’s best.
As the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) organized the list of winners based on participation in the final, looking back over the entire season, Lee Kang-in was undoubtedly a key player in PSG’s triumph in the Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) achieved its first Champions League title in 55 years and completed a 'quadruple' season by winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, by defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final for the 2024-2025 season held on the 1st in Munich Football Arena Munich (Korean time).
Lee Kang-in was named on the substitute list for the final, but head coach Luis Enrique ultimately did not substitute him in while using all five of his substitution cards. Instead, promising young player Seni Mayulu, born in 2006, was brought on, meaning Lee Kang-in unfortunately did not get to play.
UEFA reported on its official website that "Lee Kang-in did not participate in the final, and thus did not become the first Korean Champions League winner to take the field in the final." However, it also spotlighted players like Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) and Willian Pacho (Ecuador), who etched their names in their country’s history by participating in the final, while focusing on the statistics of winners by country.
Domestic fans who encountered such posts sent inquiry emails to UEFA, and those fans posted on football communities that they received a response stating that "Lee Kang-in is officially recognized as a UEFA Champions League champion."
UEFA's article is merely statistics based on 'final participation'. Lee Kang-in consistently participated in the Champions League from the group stage this season, appearing in a total of 11 matches, including playing all six group stage matches and fulfilling his role for the team in the tournament as well. In total, he recorded 45 matches, 6 goals, and 6 assists for the season, continuously contributing to PSG's journey in conquering Europe.
Indeed, after the final, Lee Kang-in was personally awarded a championship medal by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and proudly joined the winning ceremony on the podium alongside captain Marquinhos. Regardless of his participation in the final, Lee Kang-in is a member recognized by both FIFA and UEFA as a champion of the Champions League for the 2024-2025 season.
In addition, with this victory, Lee Kang-in became the second Korean to win the Champions League, following Park Ji-sung (2007-08 Manchester United). Considering that Son Heung-min reached the final stage in 2019 but ended up as a runner-up and that Park Ji-sung also did not participate in the final in 2008, Lee Kang-in’s career is a significant milestone in itself.
Notably, Lee Kang-in has become the first Asian player to experience a treble (UCL-league-domestic cup) in one of the five major European leagues. FIFA has also highlighted Lee Kang-in's treble career through official channels, stating that he "has written a new history."
Though missing out on the final was disappointing, looking back over the entire season, Lee Kang-in was a 'genuine champion member' of PSG's golden era and the main character who left another mark in Korean football history.
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