When the topic of South Korean footballers comes up, most people’s minds go straight to Son Heung Min. However, there is someone else who is slowly becoming a fan favorite. New PSG signing Lee Kang-in is having the time of his life with the Parisian giants.
PSG star striker Kylian Mbappe is one of the highest-paid and most famous footballers in the world, but it looks like the fans love Lee Kang-in more than the French striker right now, despite the former’s late arrival to the club.
Who is Lee Kang-in?
Born on February 19, 2001, in Incheon, South Korea, Lee Kang-in is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain and the South Korean national team. The 22-year-old is able to play in several positions but prefers to be in the left midfield. Kang’s career started at La Liga club Valencia. He was a part of Valencia’s youth academy and made his debut for the first team in 2018 at the age of 17, becoming the youngest South Korean player to debut in Europe.
The South Korean international also won the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup’s golden ball. He also won the Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in the same year. Lee’s remarkable performance got him the opportunity to represent his country at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The midfielder also caught the eye of some big names, like PSG, which signed him in the last transfer window for €22 million.
Lee Kang-in surpasses Mbappe in PSG shirt sales
Paris Saint-Germain lost two of their star players this year. Football legend Lionel Messi and Brazilian magician Neymar Junior cut ties with the club to take their talents elsewhere. While Leo joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami, Neymar made a move to Al Hilal.
The absence of the two put all of the limelight on Kylian Mbappe. Though the 2022 World Cup top scorer has been doing well for his club, he is still not the one selling the most jerseys.
It seems like Lee Kang-in has become a fan favorite. According to French journalist Abdellah Boulma, the 22-year-old is currently shifting the number of shirts, with Kylian Mbaape being slightly behind him.
Do you think Lee Kang-in will manage to outshine the star-studded PSG squad this season? Make sure to let us know in the comments section.
