Mexico's No. 1 player to watch is, as expected, Lee Kang-in. From the 17th-year-old prodigy to the 68th-year-old veteran, all voices agree: "We will stop him no matter what... a world-class midfielder." [World Cup On-Site Issues]

*This content was translated by AI.

This is the dignity of a midfielder from Europe's strongest team. Host nation Mexico has identified Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) as its No. 1 player to watch ahead of the match against South Korea and has warned of intense marking.

The Mexican national team, South Korea's opponent in the second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup North, Central America and Caribbean Group A under coach Hong Myung-bo, singled out Lee Kang-in as Korea's ace. In fact, on the afternoon of the 17th (local time), Mexico's key player Cesar Ureta (Anderlecht), who met at the Sports Arena in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, did not hide his deep impression, stating, "The South Korean right-sided midfielder stood out the most," even if he did not know the exact name.

In fact, Lee Kang-in led South Korea to a 2-2 comeback victory in the Group A opener against Czech Republic on the 17th, assisting Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord)'s goal. He did more than just record one attacking point; he exerted influence across the entire pitch and delivered an overwhelming performance that completely dismantled the opponent's midfield.

Lee Kang-in's performance was more than enough to instill significant caution in the Mexican squad.

The Mexican coaching staff is also concentrating its tactical efforts to stop Lee Kang-in. Javier Aguirre (68), Mexico's head coach, praised Lee Kang-in at a pre-match press conference held at Estadio Akron on the same day, saying, "Lee Kang-in is a very strong player. He can handle both defense and attack and can take on an attacking role from the front."

In particular, Coach Aguirre is well known as the manager who unlocked Lee Kang-in's potential during his time at Mallorca. Aguirre explained, "Lee Kang-in is a very difficult player to stop. Unlike his usual role as a midfielder at his club Paris Saint-Germain, he is deployed closer to a wide attacker in South Korea's 4-2-3-1 formation."

He also added, "Lee Kang-in skillfully expands the field by moving from the wing into the center and delivering sharp passes. He excels not only in one-on-one dribbling but also in long-range shooting, which is very threatening."

Even Coach Aguirre has warned of intense marking on Lee Kang-in. He stated, "We have clearly instructed our tactics and completed video analysis. We hope to suppress Lee Kang-in's influence in tomorrow's match." He emphasized that Mexico has prepared thorough countermeasures, saying, "Mexico will not only target Lee Kang-in but will also fight to win the ball against the entire South Korean team and will take the initiative in defense."

Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), a 17-year-old prodigy midfielder regarded as the future of Mexican football, also expressed significant anticipation for the matchup against Lee Kang-in.

Regarding Lee Kang-in, Mora said, "In my opinion, he is truly an amazing player. He possesses immense skill and quality, and has already proven it in every match he plays." He added, "Facing a great player like Lee Kang-in is exciting, and I always enjoy competing against the world's best players."

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*This content was translated by AI.