Ri Myong-guk

Ri Myong-guk (born 9 September 1986) is a North Korean former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Ri was known for his positioning and reflexes and spent his entire playing career at Pyongyang Sports Club in the DPR Korea League. Ri was also a national team veteran and former captain having made 118 appearances for the national team before his retirement in 2019. Ri is currently the goalkeeper coach for his former club.

Career
He played 15 matches in 2010 World Cup qualifying for Korea DPR, including keeping a clean sheet in the decisive final group game against Saudi Arabia. After the match, he stated "I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland". His performances also saw him nominated for the 2009 Asian Footballer of the Year award. Ri was Korea DPR's first choice in goal in FIFA World Cup 2010. He played all Korea DPR's three World Cup matches including 7–0 loss to Portugal. He played more than 100 official matches for his national team since his debut in 2007, making him the most capped player in the history of Korea DPR.

He was named the DPRK's best male footballer for three years running, in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Both his father and uncle were goalkeepers for the national team.