Lee Jae-sung (Mainz 05) has announced the end of his national team career.

On the 11th, appearing on the YouTube channel 'Captain Pachuho' run by Park Joo-ho, Lee Jae-sung said, "I don't know when I became a veteran player for the national team. I think I have about a year left as a national player. I will prepare with the determination that the upcoming 2026 North American World Cup will be my last and take on the challenge."

Lee Jae-sung, who leads the national team alongside his 1992-born peer Son Heung-min (Tottenham), made his A-match debut in 2015 during a friendly match against Uzbekistan. Since then, he has established himself as a key midfielder for the national team, experiencing major international tournaments including the 2018 Russia World Cup, 2019 UAE Asian Cup, 2022 Qatar World Cup, and 2023 Qatar Asian Cup.

Lee Jae-sung's role remains significant under coach Hong Myung-bo. To date, he has appeared in 98 A-matches, with only 2 matches left before joining the 'Century Club.' A product of Jeonbuk Hyundai Youth, Lee Jae-sung challenged the European stage by transferring to Holstein Kiel in the German 2. Bundesliga in 2018.

After transferring to Mainz in 2021, Lee Jae-sung has consistently performed well in the Bundesliga (1st division) and is showcasing his mature skills as he ages. Recently, he ranked 8th in the playmaker rankings for the second half of the Bundesliga 2024-2025 season, as announced by the German football magazine 'Kicker', earning recognition as a top-level midfielder.

Spending his third season at Mainz, Lee Jae-sung led his team to a 6th place finish in the Bundesliga last season, securing a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL). He said, "The upcoming season is my first European competition, and I have high expectations. I'm excited about the prospect of competing against teams from other continents."

Mentioning his determination, Lee Jae-sung stated, "I am preparing with the thought that the North American World Cup will be my last. Of course, anything can happen in football, but according to my current plan, one year is the limit." If Lee Jae-sung competes in the North American World Cup, it will mark his third World Cup appearance following the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar tournaments.

As interest from football fans grows, there is curiosity about whether the '92 line,' which includes 1992-born peer Son Heung-min and Kim Jin-soo (FC Seoul), will conclude with a grand finale at the North American World Cup. Lee Jae-sung expressed, "I want to bring greater joy to football fans at the upcoming North American World Cup and achieve a fulfilling conclusion as a representative player."

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