'Not just a jersey seller': Lee Kang-in stuns with debut goal as Spanish media heap praise

Spanish media trained their spotlight on Lee Kang-in and showered him with praise after the South Korean midfielder scored a stunning debut goal for Atletico Madrid in Spain's professional football league.

Lee came off the bench in the 57th minute of Atletico's 2026-27 LaLiga season opener against Malaga at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid on Wednesday (local time).

Just 13 minutes after stepping onto the pitch, Lee burst past defenders near the right side of the penalty box, used a feint to create space and curled a left-footed shot into the corner of the net to seal a 2-0 victory. He was named the match's most valuable player.

Atletico's sluggish attack was transformed the moment Lee entered the game.

Spanish outlet AS said Lee "completely changed the flow of the match" after coming on.

In an article headlined "Oh la la, Lee Kang-in!" AS wrote that "Griezmann may be gone, but a player has emerged to inherit his No. 7 shirt," adding that Lee's time at the club "began perfectly, with a goal as beautiful and decisive as those Griezmann used to score." Antoine Griezmann is a legendary Atletico ace whose squad number Lee has taken over.

AS said Lee "excels at creativity in tight spaces and difficult matches, and is adept at raising the tempo and breaking down opposition defenses" — qualities he demonstrated to perfection against Malaga. The outlet reserved particular praise for the goal itself, calling it "simply a fantastic strike."

In a separate column, AS noted that some had initially questioned whether Lee's signing was "just about selling jerseys and a Korea tour," but said his debut proved he is "not merely a player brought in to sell shirts — he is a footballer of outstanding quality."

The outlet added that beyond the goal, two key assist-worthy plays, his constant movement and bold decision-making left a strong impression on fans. AS also noted that self-described "Lee Kang-in fanatics" had already made their presence felt in the stadium after the match.

Spanish outlet Marca called Lee the "hero" of the match.

Marca wrote that "Atletico Madrid roared at the arrival of a new hero," saying Lee "scored a fantastic opening goal on his Metropolitano debut at a moment when Malaga had been dominating the game." The outlet added that "the Metropolitano welcomed this Korean player as its new hero."