Now foreign media are taking notice. Once treated as an unknown in Europe, Lee Ki-hyeok has received high praise, proving he is a starter.

*This content was translated by AI.

The world is finally starting to recognize him. South Korea national team defender Lee Ki-hyeok (26, Gangwon FC) has risen beyond the perception of a "surprise selection" to become a starter-level asset.

On the 12th (Korea time), the U.S. media outlet RotoWire introduced Lee Ki-hyeok, stating, "Lee Ki-hyeok did his part in the first match of the World Cup."

Under the guidance of coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea secured a 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic in the first match of Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, held at Estadio Akron on the Zofan field in Guadalajara, Mexico. Trailing 0-1, Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) scored an equalizer in the 22nd minute of the second half, and substitute forward Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) scored a thrilling go-ahead goal in the 35th minute of the second half.

There was also a hidden hero: Lee Ki-hyeok, who started as the left center-back in a three-back formation. He played the full 90 minutes against the Czech Republic, showcasing stable and calm defense against the Czech attacking line, a "tall unit" nearly 2 meters tall. Lee Ki-hyeok recorded 76 ball touches, 11 defensive actions, 8 clearances, 3 interceptions, and 8 header clearances.

These were the most impressive defensive statistics among South Korea's three center-backs. The "monster defender" Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), who anchored the defense, recorded 6 defensive actions, 3 clearances, 2 interceptions, and 2 header clearances. Right center-back Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) recorded 6 defensive actions, 1 tackle, 5 clearances, and 4 header clearances.

Foreign media also focused on Lee Ki-hyeok's performance. RotoWire explained, "Lee Ki-hyeok recorded 8 clearances and 3 interceptions in the match against the Czech Republic. South Korea used a three-back formation. Lee Ki-hyeok formed the defensive trio alongside Bayern Munich veteran Kim Min-jae and young defender Lee Han-beom of Midtjylland, and he was the least known of the three defenders."

Nevertheless, the evaluation was favorable. The media reported, "Nevertheless, Lee Ki-hyeok performed beyond his share defensively. He ranked first in both clearances and interceptions among all South Korean players."

Lee Ki-hyeok also received a caution late in the match. This was due to a scene where he kicked the ball away after the whistle blew, following a foul committed by the Czech Republic in South Korea's half. The media noted, "Unfortunately, Lee Ki-hyeok was the only player to receive a yellow card in this match. He must be careful in future games, but this performance and South Korea's victory mean that Lee Ki-hyeok has secured a starting role."

Football statistics outlet FootMob also gave Lee Ki-hyeok a high rating of 7.6. This was the highest score among South Korea's three center-backs. Kim Min-jae's rating was 7.4, and Lee Han-beom's rating was 7.1.

Lee Ki-hyeok was a player who performed well with his club team, Gangwon FC, and was surprisingly selected for the final roster for the North American World Cup. Until then, he had only one appearance in an A-match. However, he won over coach Hong Myung-bo, stepped onto his first World Cup stage, and played his World Cup debut match against the Czech Republic amidst injury variables in the defensive line.

Lee Ki-hyeok not only provided stable defense but also played the role of the starting point for build-up play with precise ball control and accurate passing. His calmness in delivering the ball to advancing teammates even under pressure, as well as his long passes spread to the wings, stood out.

Most notably, his defensive ability stood out. The Czech attacking line is a team that fields tall players around 190 cm. Lukas Prochazka (Slavia Prague), who started as a second striker, is 189 cm, and top striker Patrik Schick is 186 cm. In particular, substitute forward Tomas Horak (Slavia Prague) stands at 198 cm. However, the Czech attacking line was unable to exert much power, blocked by Lee Ki-hyeok's passionate play.

Thanks to this, Lee Ki-hyeok began to be recognized even overseas. Global football media Goal.com also evaluated Lee Ki-hyeok's performance, stating, "He performed his duties without major issues as the left center-back." Lee Ki-hyeok firmly etched his name with just one match against the Czech Republic.

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*This content was translated by AI.