Lee Kang-in wins first league title as PSG lock in Ligue 1 trophy

Lee Kang-in is the first Korean player to win the top-tier French league title.

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in celebrates his goal during the Trophee des Champions match against Toulouse FC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France on Jan. 3. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in won the 2023-24 Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain after second-place AS Monaco lost 3-2 to Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday, becoming the first Korean player to win the French league title.

PSG were 12 points clear at the top of the league table following their 3-3 draw with Le Havre on Saturday, and Monaco's loss the next day sealed the Paris club’s 12th league title with three fixtures left.

The Ligue 1 trophy comes in Lee’s debut season in France, having joined PSG ahead of the 2023-24 campaign from La Liga side Mallorca.

He has played as a regular midfielder pick this season, appearing in 31 matches across all competitions during which he recorded four goals and four assists.

It's the first league title Lee has won in his career, although it's his second piece of silverware with PSG after the club won the Trophee des Champions in January.

The Trophee des Champions is the French super cup, played between the reigning Ligue 1 winners — PSG — and Coupe de France holders — Toulouse. It is the French equivalent of England’s Community Shield or the now-defunct Korean Super Cup.

Lee, 23, started his career at Valencia in 2018 and moved to Mallorca in 2021 before joining PSG last summer.

He is a versatile midfielder with fancy footwork that outwits defenders, and his impressive accuracy gets the ball up to the front. He has long been a fan favorite back home, where he has been seen as the future of Korean football since starring on the TV show “Fly Shoot Dori” at just six years old.

He has also been a regular pick on the national team, having made 25 caps since his senior national team debut in 2019.

Lee can pursue his career at PSG uninterrupted as he earned military exemption last fall by winning a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games with the U-23 national team.

He could lift more silverware with PSG this season, as the Ligue 1 champions are still alive in the Champions League and reached the Coupe de France final where they will face Lyon on May 25.

PSG will be back in Champions League action for the first leg of the semifinals against Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Wednesday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]