Korea's Lee Kang-in, left, fights for the ball with South Africa's Thapelo Maseko during the World Cup Group A match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, June 24. AP-Yonhap
Despite Korea's disappointing early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, midfielder Lee Kang-in, 25, has earned international recognition for his performance.
Spanish sports daily Marca unveiled its Group Stage Best XI on Saturday after the conclusion of the tournament's opening round. Based on its proprietary power rankings, the newspaper selected both a Best XI (Gold Team) and a reserve XI (Silver Team) in a 3-4-3 formation.
Lee, who played every minute of Korea's three group-stage matches, received a power ranking score of 23.96 to secure a spot as an attacking midfielder in the Best XI. He was the only Asian player selected and the only player from a nation that failed to advance to the Round of 32.
Lee Kang-in leaves the Korean national team's hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico, June 28, following Korea's group-stage elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yonhap
