Lee Kang-in, who rose to global stardom by becoming the first Asian to win the Golden Ball as the best player of the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, has become the new face of LG Electronics Inc. under a sponsorship contract.

LG Electronics said Thursday that it chose Lee as its new brand ambassador and work as the young player’s official sponsor for three years, starting next month. Related agreements were inked a day earlier in Seoul.

Lee is an 18-year-old footballer who plays as a midfielder in La Liga for Valencia CF. He was picked to play for South Korea’s national U-20 football team in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup and led his team to a historic runner-up finish. He won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, after scoring two goals and four assists in seven matches. He is the first footballer of Korea, as well as Asia, to receive the top individual award at a FIFA international tournament.

The electronics maker has been eager sponsor for sports stars. It has been the official sponsor for the country’s national female curling team, climber Kim Jai-in, and skeleton racer Yun Sung-bin.

By Hwang Soon-min and Cho Jeehyun

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]