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Lee Kang-in of Atletico Madrid has been named the winner of La Liga’s Goal of the Month award for August. / La Liga social media capture

Lee Kang-in of Atletico Madrid has been named the winner of Spanish La Liga’s Goal of the Month award for August.

La Liga said on its website on Sept. 9 local time that “Lee Kang-in has won the La Liga EA Sports Goal of the Month award for August after scoring a spectacular goal against Malaga that led his team to victory.”

Lee scored his debut goal in Atletico’s 2026-2027 La Liga season opener against Malaga at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid on Aug. 29, curling a left-footed shot into the net in the 70th minute. Atletico secured a comfortable 2-0 victory thanks to Lee’s opening match-winner, and he was named the game’s most valuable player.

Meanwhile, Atletico, with Lee starting as one of two strikers, suffered a 2-1 comeback defeat to Liverpool in their opening league-phase match of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League at Anfield in Liverpool on Sept. 10 Korea time, despite Marcos Llorente giving the Spanish side the lead in the 17th minute.

Lee played 59 minutes before being substituted in the 59th minute, moving between striker and midfield and linking up well with Julian Alvarez. However, he failed to register a shot, made one key pass and posted an 89% pass completion rate. Spanish outlet El Desmarque gave him a poor rating of 4, saying, “A costly turnover in his own half led to Liverpool’s first equalizer.”

Liverpool came from behind to win through Dominik Szoboszlai’s equalizer in the 40th minute and Alexis Mac Allister’s match-winning goal in the 50th minute.

                                                                                                         Cho Seong-jun