RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — South Korean national team midfielder Lee Kang-in (24), who plays for French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has been crowned the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) International Player of the Year. The prestigious award, announced on October 17 at the 'AFC Annual Awards Riyadh 2025' ceremony, recognizes the most outstanding Asian player competing outside the continent.
Lee edged out fierce competition from Iran’s Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos) and Japan’s Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) to secure the coveted trophy. He becomes only the third South Korean player to win the award, following in the footsteps of national legends Son Heung-min (a four-time winner in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023) and Kim Min-jae (2022).
A Historic Treble and Global Impact
The 2024-2025 season marked a career-defining period for the 24-year-old playmaker. Lee made 49 official appearances for PSG, playing a crucial role in their historic treble, which included the French Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League.
The AFC highlighted Lee’s monumental achievement, noting that he became only the second Korean player, after Park Ji-sung (then with Manchester United), to claim a Champions League winner's medal.
Lee’s impact extended beyond the domestic and European circuits. In the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, he achieved another milestone by becoming the first Asian player to score in the tournament, contributing significantly to PSG’s runner-up finish. On the international stage, his four goals and four assists were instrumental in guiding the Korean national team to simultaneous qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.
Completing the Growth Narrative
The award represents the final flourish on Lee’s remarkable "growth narrative." In 2019, he won the AFC Youth Player of the Year award after earning the Golden Ball at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he led South Korea to a historic second-place finish. His transition from a promising youth star to an established global powerhouse is now complete.
The AFC lauded Lee, stating, “Lee Kang-in has set a new benchmark for Asian football with his creativity, dedication, and game intelligence. His season transcends mere performance; it symbolizes an inspiration for a generation.”
Other Award Winners
While Lee’s victory salvaged South Korea’s presence at the ceremony, other top honors went to non-Korean nominees. The AFC Men’s Player of the Year was awarded to Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), and the AFC Women’s Player of the Year went to Japan’s Hana Takahashi (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies).
In a notable recognition for coaching excellence, the AFC Men’s Coach of the Year award was presented to North Korea's Ri Song-ho, head coach of the North Korea Women's U-20 team. Ri led his squad to victory at the ‘AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024’ and subsequently guided them to a third, record-tying, Women’s U-20 World Cup title at the ‘FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024.’
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