Lee Kang-in (24) of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) came on as a substitute in the first match of the FIFA Club World Cup and scored a penalty kick.

PSG defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the first match of Group B of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup held on Dec. 16 at 4 a.m. (Korea time) at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles, USA.

PSG, which achieved the UEFA Champions League (UCL) victory and a treble in the 2024-2025 season, triumphed over European powerhouse Atletico right from their first game in the Club World Cup.

Coach Luis Enrique employed a 4-3-3 formation that day. He placed Desiree Due, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Gonzalo Hamus in the forward positions, while core players like Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Joao Neves were deployed in the midfield. Lee Kang-in started on the bench.

PSG made a strong start by scoring the opening goal with a long-range shot from Ruiz in the 19th minute of the first half.

With a goal finish following a personal breakthrough by Vitinha during stoppage time of the first half, PSG made it 2-0, ending the first half with a two-goal lead.

In the second half, PSG continued to press Atletico.

In the 32nd minute of the second half, opposing defender Clement Lenglet was sent off, giving PSG a numerical advantage, and they extended their lead with an additional goal from Senny Mayulu in the 20th minute of the second half.

Lee Kang-in scored a decisive goal. He came on for Ruiz in the 27th minute of the second half and successfully converted a penalty kick during stoppage time of the second half.

Lee Kang-in played for about 20 minutes. In addition to his decisive goal, he recorded a pass success rate of 92% and made one tackle.

After recently performing well in international matches, Lee Kang-in returned to PSG but was utilized as a substitute in this match. He started as a regular in the early part of the 2024-2025 season, but his playing time decreased as the season progressed. He often was not named in the starting lineup for matches against strong teams. He has played in 11 matches in the UCL, starting in only four of them.

In this context, Lee Kang-in has recently been linked with transfers to English Premier League (EPL) and Serie A clubs. His performance in the Club World Cup could increase his likelihood of transferring.

After the match, European football statistics outlet Footmob rated Lee Kang-in at 7.6, while WhoScored.com gave him a score of 6.89.

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