59-year-old Japanese footballer scores first competitive goal in four years
The world’s oldest professional footballer, Kazuyoshi Miura, popularly called “King Kazu”, on Saturday scored his first competitive goal in four years, at the age of 59.
The Japanese football legend found the net in the 52nd minute for J-League third division side Fukushima United in their 7-0 thrashing of Iwaki Furukawa, to advance in the Emperor’s Cup, before he was substituted three minutes later.
The former international, with 55 goals in 89 games for Japan, netted his last competitive goal in November 2022, when he scored for Suzuka PG, now Atletico Suzuka, in a Japan Football League loss to FC Osaka.
Miura, who joined Fukushima United on loan from J2 League side Yokohama FC in December 2025, is preparing for his 42nd season as a professional after making six appearances during a shortened 2026 campaign, and also extending his loan spell until June 2027, when he will have turned 60.
The development meant he has made good his resolve not to hang up his boots until he turns 60.
The Asian football icon, who began his career with Brazilian side Santos in 1986, had also played in Italy, Croatia and Australia.
He signed for Yokohama in 2005 but had not featured for them since 2020, before his loan spell.
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