Lee Kang-in Named KFA Men’s Player of the Year, Beating Son Heung-min for First Win

Lee Kang-in (left) and Jang Seul-ki were announced as the men’s and women’s Players of the Year at the 2025 Korea Football Association Awards on Feb. 24 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan. (Yonhap via photo) — Lee Kang-in (left) and Jang Seul-ki were announced as the men’s and women’s Players of the Year at the 2025 Korea Football Association Awards on Feb. 24 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan. [Photo=Yonhap]

South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain was named the Korea Football Association’s men’s Player of the Year, edging Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC for his first win of the honor.
Lee was announced as the men’s winner at the 2025 KFA Awards held Feb. 24 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan.
The Player of the Year award recognizes Korean men’s and women’s players for standout performances with both their clubs and the national teams. Winners are determined by a combined vote: 50% from the press and 50% from KFA experts, including members of the National Team Strengthening Committee and the Technical Development Committee, as well as full-time women’s football coaches.
Lee topped the men’s vote with 31.4 points, ahead of last year’s winner Son, the award’s most frequent recipient, who had 29.2.
The award has been presented since 2010, and this was Lee’s first time winning it.
With PSG, Lee helped deliver a treble last year, winning the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League along with Ligue 1 and the French Cup. He also contributed to the club’s runner-up finish at the FIFA Club World Cup.
For the South Korea national team coached by Hong Myung-bo, Lee had one goal and five assists in nine A matches, helping the team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
In the women’s category, Jang Seul-ki of Gyeongju KHNP won Player of the Year with 18.4 points.
The men’s and women’s Young Player awards went to Kang Sang-yoon of Jeonbuk Hyundai and Kim Min-ji of Seoul City Hall.
Coach of the Year honors went to Lee Jung-hyo of Suwon Samsung on the men’s side and Kang Sun-mi of Hwacheon KSPO on the women’s side.
Referee of the Year awards went to Kim Dae-yong, Bang Gi-yeol and Jung Eun-ju. Club of the Year went to Seoul Yangcheon-gu TNTFC, the 2025 season K5 League Championship winner.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon