Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Vitinha (25) conceded the penalty kick, and Lee Kang-in (24, also PSG) converted the opportunity into a goal. It was a decisive shot that sealed the team's 4-0 victory. This scene highlighted both PSG's teamwork and Lee Kang-in's presence.
PSG defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the first match of Group B at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held on the 16th (Korean time) at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles, USA. The European champions PSG, who achieved a treble, showcased the prowess of 'European champions' from the very first match of the club world cup.
Coach Luis Enrique set up an offensive lineup with Desiree Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Gonzalo Hamez and deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and João Neves in midfield. Lee Kang-in started the game on the bench.
PSG opened the scoring with a long-range shot from Luis in the 19th minute, and extended the lead to 2-0 just before halftime with a goal following a personal breakthrough by Vitinha, taking early control of the match. PSG secured a numerical advantage when Atletico defender Clément Lenglet was sent off in the 78th minute, and effectively sealed the match with an additional goal from substitute Senny Mayulu in the 87th minute.
In front of a crowd of 80,619, Lee Kang-in capped the match. After coming on as a substitute for Fabian Ruiz in the 72nd minute, Lee took on the role of penalty kicker in stoppage time and calmly found the net with his left foot. It was a shot that completely deceived the opposing goalkeeper.
A behind-the-scenes story regarding the penalty kick has garnered attention. According to a prominent French media outlet, 'Le Parisien', the original kicker for the penalty was Vitinha. However, he conceded the chance to Lee Kang-in. After the match, he explained the reason in an interview with 'DAZN'.
"Usually, I take the shot, and if Ousmane Dembélé is available, he takes it. Today I was supposed to take it, but since I’m not a forward, I don’t necessarily need to score. If the score difference is sufficient, I give the opportunity to a forward who needs to score. Today, Lee Kang-in was in that situation," he said.
Vitinha, who is originally from Portugal, controlled the midfield throughout the match and demonstrated teamwork once again by conceding to Lee Kang-in. He established himself as PSG’s central midfielder and was a key member in leading the team to a treble last season. In this match, he coordinated pressure, provided forward passes, and dominated the flow of the game, even scoring directly to account for the team's second goal.
During approximately 20 minutes of playtime, Lee Kang-in recorded a pass success rate of 92% and one tackle, leaving his presence felt with the decisive goal just before the end of the second half. His goal is also the first ever scored by a Korean player in FIFA Club World Cup history.
Of course, Lee Kang-in's situation is not entirely smooth. He has proven his potential by playing various positions such as false 9 and winger during the early part of the 2024-2025 season under Coach Luis Enrique's experimentation, but in the latter half, he has fallen somewhat behind in the competition for a starting spot. He has only been a starter in 4 out of 11 UEFA Champions League matches.
Recently, actions suggesting a transfer have been spotted, including deleting 'PSG' from social media. He has been linked with Italy’s Serie A side SSC Napoli and Premier League clubs, and local reports from France and Italy suggest a high possibility of Lee's transfer.
The goal that day could serve as an important turning point for him. Within the perfect narrative of Vitinha's consideration, calm finishing, and the team's overwhelming victory, Lee Kang-in's value has been highlighted once again. The next match is against South American champions Botafogo. If he gets another chance to play, he could reinforce the impression he has made.
[OSEN]