Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player Lee Kang-in (24) showcased his presence with a brilliant pass. PSG advanced to the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. After the match, he embraced former teammate Kylian Mbappe (26, Real Madrid) to share joy after a long time.
PSG defeated Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on the 10th (Korea time).
PSG, who reached the final, will face Chelsea at the same venue on the 14th for the championship.
Lee Kang-in was substituted in at the 35th minute of the second half after his team led 3-0. Although he played for about 10 minutes, he caught the fans' attention with a single pass. In the 42nd minute of the second half, he sent an exquisite lob pass to Hakimi, setting up PSG's fourth goal.
PSG launched a fierce attack from the beginning of the first half. In the 6th minute, a cross from Due deflected off a defender, and Dembele recovered the ball. Ultimately, Luis finished it off with a goal. Just three minutes later, another goal came. Dembele capitalized on Antonio Rudiger's mistake, stole the ball, and scored after a solo breakthrough.
Real Madrid attempted to counterattack centered around Mbappe but could not break through PSG's solid defense.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Luis connected a cross from Hakimi's right-side breakthrough to score PSG's third goal.
PSG substituted out Dembele and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia for Bradley Barcola and Gonzalo Hamus in the 14th minute of the second half. In the 35th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in was sent in.
Real Madrid struggled to make up at least one goal but was unable to fulfill their objective.
The match ended with PSG's dominant 4-0 victory.
According to the football statistics site Footmob, Lee Kang-in touched the ball a total of 13 times during approximately 10 minutes on the field, achieving a passing success rate of 91% (10 out of 11 successful), one successful attacking area pass, and a 100% success rate in ground duels (1 out of 1 successful). He was not dispossessed even once.
BBC evaluated after the match, "PSG dominated Real Madrid. None of their passing, speed, or pressure was easily stoppable."
They continued, "After defeating Inter Milan 5-0 to claim the Champions League title, PSG is showing its tremendous momentum by winning against Atletico Madrid (4-0), Bayern Munich (2-0 with 9 players), and Real Madrid."
If PSG defeats Chelsea in the final, they will achieve a quintuple of titles in the 2024-2025 season.
PSG, who have already won the French Cup, Ligue 1, and the Champions League, have only one match left to claim the Club World Cup. They are just one step away from achieving the quintuple including the Trophée des Champions.
In this tournament, PSG boasts a 'crazy balance between offense and defense.' They have recorded a total score of 18-0 in the last five matches (excluding group stage and Ligue 1 matches).
After the match, a warm scene unfolded. Lee Kang-in and Mbappe, reunited, shared an embrace of joy.
Lee Kang-in joined PSG in July 2023 after leaving Mallorca. Mbappe transferred to Real Madrid after finishing the 2023-2024 season. The two quickly built a friendship while playing together for one season.
While they were on the same team, Lee Kang-in and Mbappe often stayed close together, frequently exhibiting affectionate behavior. In December 2023, a video of the two players joking and embracing during training was posted on PSG's official social media account, capturing fans' attention.
Their friendship was also evident during matches. In the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona in April 2024, when Mbappe scored, Lee Kang-in was the first to approach him to offer congratulations. Local fans reacted by saying, "The chemistry between the two is outstanding."
When Mbappe left PSG, Lee Kang-in left a message on his social media account: "Although it was a short time, we created unforgettable memories. It was an honor to play together."
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