Lee Kang-in injured when he was in good form for a long time! 'Injury alert issued to Hong Myung-bo'

[My Daily = Reporter Shim Jae-hee] Lee Kang-in (24) of the French Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is caught in an injury trap. He collapsed in the final match of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 against Flamengo Brazil at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Alaiyan, Qatar on Wednesday (Korea time). He complained of pain at the end of the first half and was substituted.

PSG tied the match 1-1 until the playoff and won the penalty shootout, winning the match 2-1. However, he couldn't smile. After the match, he was diagnosed with a thigh injury. He cannot afford to play in matches for several weeks. He expressed regret over his injury in a situation where he was in good form.

Lee Kang-in's injury is reflected not only in PSG but also in Hong Myung-bo. It goes without saying that Lee Kang-in, who plays the most creative game in the Korean national team, is a big minus. Lee Kang-in, who acts as an advance guard of attack and shines his presence as a dead ball specialist, is an indispensable option in Hong Myung-bo. He is not at a level that can be replaced by another player.

Team Hong Myung-bo is set to play at the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup. The team is in Group A along with Mexico, the host country, and South Africa. It will also face off with a European team that will pass Group D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Ireland). Although the team has good luck, it has no opponent at all.

Hong Myung-bo was issued an "injury alert." Preventing injuries to Lee Kang-in and other players, who are the central axis of the team, has emerged as the key. In particular, it has become very important to manage the condition of European players participating in the World Cup after a long race. Lee Kang-in needs to get out of the injury trap quickly and raise his sense of play.

Meanwhile, 48 countries will participate in the 2026 North-China World Cup. The finals are longer than before. 48 countries will be divided into 12 groups and will have a group league. The first and second-ranked teams in each group will advance to the round of 32, and eight of the third-ranked teams will play as wild cards. From the round of 32, the finals will be played as a single-round tournament.