Japanese football legend Kazuyoshi Miura made history on Saturday by scoring his first competitive goal in nearly four years, finding the net at the age of 59 while playing on loan for fourth-tier club Atlético Suzuka. According to Kyodo News, the veteran forward—affectionately known in Japan as “King Kazu”—scored from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute against Verspah Oita in the Japan Football League.
Milestone Goal Extends Record-Breaking Career
Miura’s latest strike marks his first official goal in Japanese competitive football since November 2021, when he scored for Yokohama FC in J2. Playing on a season-long loan from J1 League club Yokohama FC, Miura continues to defy conventional sporting timelines in what is now his record-breaking 41st professional season.
According to match reports from The Japan Times, Miura played 68 minutes of the fixture before being substituted. Despite his goal, Atlético Suzuka ultimately fell short, dropping the match 2-1 to Verspah Oita in front of home supporters.
A Career Spanning Five Decades
Miura began his professional career in 1986 with Brazilian powerhouse Santos, where he signed his first professional contract because opportunities in Japan’s then-amateur domestic league were limited. Over a career spanning five distinct decades, he has played for clubs across Brazil, Japan, Italy, Croatia, Australia, and Portugal.
At the international level, Miura earned 89 caps for the Japan national team and scored 55 goals between 1990 and 2000. He remains the second-highest scorer in the history of the Samurai Blue, trailing only Kunishige Kamamoto, and played a foundational role in popularizing professional football in Japan ahead of the inaugural J.League season in 1993.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What team does Kazuyoshi Miura currently play for? Miura plays for fourth-tier club Atlético Suzuka on loan from Yokohama FC.
- How old is Kazuyoshi Miura? Miura is 59 years old, making him the oldest active professional football player in the world.
- When was his last competitive goal before this match? According to Kyodo News, his previous official goal in Japanese competitive football came in November 2021 while playing for Yokohama FC.
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