Lee Seung-woo

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This article is about a footballer. For the writer, see Lee Seung-u.

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.
Lee Seung-woo
Lee in Seoul Plaza, South Korea in 2018
Personal information
Full name Lee Seung-woo
Date of birth (1998-01-06) 6 January 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder[2]
Team information
Current team
 Suwon FC
Number 11
Youth career
2010–2011 Kwangsung Middle School
2011–2016 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Barcelona B 1 (0)
2017–2019 Hellas Verona 37 (2)
2019–2021 Sint-Truiden 17 (2)
2020–2021 → Portimonense (loan) 4 (0)
2022– Suwon FC 80 (30)
International career‡
2013–2015 South Korea U17 18 (13)
2015–2017 South Korea U20 16 (7)
2018–2021 South Korea U23 10 (4)
2018– South Korea 11 (0)
Medal record
Representing  South Korea
Men's football
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Team
AFC U-16 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2014 Thailand Team[3]
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 June 2021
Lee Seung-woo
Hangul
이승우
Hanja
李昇祐
Revised RomanizationI Seungu
McCune–ReischauerRi Sŭngu

Lee Seung-woo (Korean: 이승우; Hanja: 李昇祐; born 6 January 1998) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a left winger for Suwon FC.

Early life[edit]

Lee in 2012

Aged 12, Lee caught the attention of FC Barcelona after he finished as the top scorer in the 2010 Danone Nations Cup, one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments.[4] He joined Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, and scored 39 goals in 29 appearances during his first season.[5] He was also named the best player in four youth tournaments: Torneo Canillas,[6] Memorial Gaetano Scirea,[7] Trofeo San Bonifacio,[8] and Gabala Cup.[9] He was nicknamed the "Korean Messi" after showing his talent.[10]

However, he was banned from playing in the regular season for three years until his 18th birthday by transfer regulations of FIFA.[4][5] On 13 March 2016, he made his senior debut for the B team.[11]

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi[note 1] (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi] ⓘ; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and was named the world's best player for a record eight times by FIFA.[note 2] Until 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and the UEFA Champions League four times.[note 3] With his country, he won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi holds the records for most goals (474), hat-tricks (36), and assists in La Liga (192). He has the most international goals by a South American male (106). Messi has scored over 800 senior career goals for club and country, and the most goals for a single club (672).

Messi relocated to Spain and joined Barcelona aged 13, making his competitive debut at age 17 in October 2004. He established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, and in his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09 helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football; that year, aged 22, Messi won his first Ballon d'Or. Messi won four consecutive Ballons d'Or, the first player to win it four times. During the 2011–12 season, he set La Liga and European records for most goals in a season, while establishing himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer. The following two seasons, he finished second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo, his perceived career rival, before regaining his best form during the 2014–15 campaign, becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga and leading Barcelona to a historic second treble, and was awarded a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015. Messi assumed captaincy of Barcelona in 2018, and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. He signed for French club Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, spending two seasons there and winning Ligue 1 twice. Messi joined American club Inter Miami in July 2023, winning the Leagues Cup in August.

An Argentine international, Messi is the country's all-time leading goalscorer and holds the national record for appearances. At youth level, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics. His style of play as a diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi as his successor.[13] After his senior debut in 2005, Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in a FIFA World Cup (2006). As the squad's captain from 2011, he led Argentina to three consecutive finals: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the 2016 Copa América. After announcing his international retirement in 2016, he reversed this and led his country to qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and victory in the 2021 Copa América. He led Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he won a record second Golden Ball, scored seven goals including two in the final, and broke the record for most games played at the World Cup (26), later receiving his record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023.

Messi has endorsed sportswear company Adidas since 2006. According to France Football, he was the world's highest-paid footballer for five years out of six between 2009 and 2014, and was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022. Messi was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, the first team-sport athlete to win it. In 2020, Messi was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team and became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.

Early life Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe,[14] the third of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory manager, and his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a magnet manufacturing workshop. On his father's side, he is of Italian and Spanish descent, the great-grandson of immigrants from the north-central Adriatic Marche region of Italy, and on his mother's side, he has primarily Italian ancestry.[3] Growing up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, "Leo" developed a passion for the sport from an early age, playing constantly with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom became professional footballers.[15] At the age of four he joined local club Grandoli, where he was coached by his father, though his earliest influence as a player came from his maternal grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training and matches.[16] He was greatly affected by her death, shortly before his eleventh birthday; since then, as a devout Catholic, he has celebrated his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky in tribute to his grandmother.[17][18]

"When you saw him you would think: this kid can't play ball. He's a dwarf, he's too fragile, too small. But immediately you'd realise that he was born different, that he was a phenomenon and that he was going to be something impressive."

– Newell's Old Boys youth coach Adrián Coria shares his first impression of the 12-year-old Messi.[19]

A lifelong supporter of Newell's Old Boys, Messi joined the Rosario club when he was six years old. During the six years he played for Newell's, he scored almost 500 goals as a member of "The Machine of '87", the near-unbeatable youth side named for the year of their birth, and regularly entertained crowds by performing ball tricks during half-time of the first team's home games.[20][21] However, his future as a professional player was threatened when, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. As his father's health insurance covered only two years of growth hormone therapy, which cost at least $1,000 per month, Newell's agreed to contribute, but later reneged on their promise.[22] He was scouted by Buenos Aires club River Plate, whose playmaker Pablo Aimar he idolised.[23][24] It was speculated that he failed to be signed into River Plate due to his ill health, however in a 2019 interview, Messi revealed that the club had offered to pay for his medical treatment despite ultimately rejecting him.[25] His goalscoring idol growing up was Brazilian striker Ronaldo, with Messi calling him "the best forward I've ever seen".[26]

International career[edit]

Lee made his international debut as a part of the South Korea under-16 team in the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification. He scored four goals in a qualifier against Laos.[12]

In the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship, he showed overwhelming performances, leading South Korea to the final. He scored winning goals against Malaysia and Thailand in the group stage.[13] Afterwards, in the quarter-finals, he scored all two goals in a 2–0 win over Japan, and left a memorable scene. He destroyed Japan's defense by dribbling for about 50 meters, scoring his second goal.[14] In the semi-finals against Syria, he recorded one goal and four assists.[15] He became the tournament's best player and top goalscorer, although his team lost the final to North Korea.

Lee played for South Korea in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but he missed a crucial penalty against Belgium. South Korea lost to Belgium in the round of 16.[16]

Lee participated in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted by South Korea. He scored the winning goal and provided one assist in the first group match against Guinea.[17] He scored the opening goal after dribbling alone for 40 meters in the second match against Argentina.[18][19] South Korea was eliminated by a loss to Portugal in the round of 16.

In a friendly against Honduras just before the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Lee made his senior international debut and showed impressive performance including an assist.[20] He was selected for the World Cup team, playing two World Cup matches as a substitute.

Lee was named in the South Korea under-23 squad for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang. In the round of 16 against Iran, he scored his first goal of the tournament.[21] In the semi-finals against Vietnam, he led South Korea to a 3–1 victory with two goals and one assist. In extra time of the final, he scored the crucial opening goal, contributing to a 2–1 victory over Japan. He won a gold medal after the final.[22]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of 28 May 2023[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 2015–16 Segunda División B 1 0 — — — 1 0
2016–17 Segunda División B 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 1 0 — — — 1 0
Hellas Verona 2017–18 Serie A 14 1 2 0 — — 16 1
2018–19 Serie B 23 1 1 0 — 3[a] 0 27 1
Total 37 2 3 0 — 3 0 43 2
Sint-Truiden 2019–20 Belgian First Division A 4 0 0 0 — — 4 0
2020–21 Belgian First Division A 13 2 0 0 — — 13 2
Total 17 2 0 0 — — 17 2
Portimonense (loan) 2020–21 Primeira Liga 4 0 — — — 4 0
Suwon FC 2022 K League 1 35 14 0 0 — — 35 14
2023 K League 1 35 10 0 0 — 1[b] 0 35 10
Total 70 24 0 0 — — 70 24
Career total 129 28 3 0 — 4 0 135 28
  1. ^ Appearances in Serie B Promotion play-offs.
  2. ^ Appearance in K League promotion-relegation playoffs

Honours[edit]

South Korea U17

South Korea U23

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. ^ 중앙에 자리잡은 이승우 "내가 좋아하는 포지션" (in Korean). Goal. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ 2014년 08월 26일 현재, U-16 대표팀 명단 (AFC U-16 챔피언십, 태국). JoinKFA.com (in Korean). JoinKFA. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b Price, Steve (25 January 2016). "The South Korean Prodigies Held Back by Barcelona's Transfer Ban". TheseFootballTimes.co. These Football Times. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b Duerden, John (3 July 2015). "Teenager Seung-woo builds bridge between Korea and Barcelona". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  6. ^ "El infantil del Barça, campeón en Canillas". Sport.es (in Spanish). Sport. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  7. ^ "El cadete B del Barça, campeón en Italia tras ganar al Milan en el último segundo". Sport.es (in Spanish). Sport. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Lee Seung Woo miglior giocatore del torneo". TrofeoSanBonifacio.com (in Italian). Verona Soccer Cup. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  9. ^ "2nd Gabala Cup - Awarding Ceremony - Video". GabalaFC.az. Gabala FK. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Barcelona's 'Korean Messi' Seung-Woo Lee turns 18". AS.com. Diario AS. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  11. ^ a b Lee Seung-woo at Soccerway
  12. ^ 한국 U-16 대표, 라오스에 4-1 완승 본선 진출. Naver (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Lee Seung-Woo scores again / AFC U16 Quarterfinals with Japan on Sunday". TaegukWarriors.com. Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  14. ^ "U-16 Japan National Team lose to Korea at AFC U-16 Championship, failing to qualify for U-17 World Cup". JFA.jp. JFA. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  15. ^ Duerden, John (9 June 2018). "Lee Seung-woo: Korean Messi who had to leave Barça to further career". TheGuardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Lee Seungwoo: I want to go further than we did in Chile". FIFA.com. FIFA. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  17. ^ "(U20 World Cup) Barca youngster shines in S. Korea's victory vs. Guinea". KoreaTimesUS.com. The Korea Times. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  18. ^ [한국 아르헨티나] '40m 질주 & 칩슛' 이승우는 진짜 '한국 메시'였다. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  19. ^ "T O P 10 G O A L S - FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Rep. 2017 [OFFICIAL]". YouTube.com. FIFATV. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  20. ^ Lee, Jong-hyun (30 May 2018). 西언론 "이승우, 월드컵 최종 23인 발탁 유력…데뷔전 맹활약" [A Spanish press "Lee Seung-woo, the possibility of 23 finalists in the World Cup…Very active debut"] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Korea beats Iran to move into last eight". The Korea Times. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Asian Games: Extra time goals allow South Korea to win soccer gold". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Lee scoops MVP, top scorer awards". The-AFC.com. AFC. 21 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Khrbin and Kerr land AFC Awards". The-AFC.com. AFC. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  25. ^ 이승우, 올해의 베스트골 수상 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  26. ^ "EA Player Of The Month June. Lee Seung-Woo". YouTube.com (in Korean). K League. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  27. ^ "EA SPORTS Player Of The Month August. Lee Seung-Woo". YouTube.com (in Korean). K League. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.

External links[edit]

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