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PSG’s Lee Kang-in aims to become only second Asian Uefa Champions League winner, could meet fellow South Korean in final

  • Newly crowned French champions are heavy favourites against Borussia Dortmund to reach Wembley next month
  • Unlike their opponents, they have never won the competition and have reached only one final, back in 2020

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Paris St Germain’s Lee Kang-in could become only the third Asian man to reach a Uefa Champions League final. Photo: Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee Kang-in is aiming to become just the second Asian man to win a Uefa Champions League medal as the South Korea forward prepares for a semi-final against Borussia Dortmund.

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The newly crowned French champions are heavy favourites to reach the showpiece at Wembley next month at the expense of the German side, which is languishing in fifth place in the Bundesliga.

But unlike their opponents, PSG have never won the competition – though they have reached one final, back in 2020 – and, after overcoming a first-leg home defeat to Barcelona in the quarter-finals to dump the Catalans out with a 4-1 victory in the return, there is a real positive spirit around the French capital side.

And Lee has been an important member of the squad this campaign, with 31 appearances in all competitions, including eight in the Champions League.

He was signed from Real Mallorca before the start of the campaign for €22 million (HK$185m) to become PSG’s first-ever South Korean player.

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And despite arriving alongside three other big-name attacking players in Ousmane Dembele, Marco Asensio and Goncalo Ramos, Lee has forged an important role for himself in Luis Enrique’s squad.

Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung is the only male Asian player to win the Champions League. Photo: AP
Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung is the only male Asian player to win the Champions League. Photo: AP
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