Japanese Soccer Legend Kazuyoshi Miura Becomes Oldest to Play at 53

Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura set a new record by becoming the oldest player in a professional game. The 53-year-old played 63 minutes in Yokohama FC’s win against Sagan Tosu in the return of the J1 League in Japan after COVID-19.

With this, King Kazu is now the first to play a professional game in five different decades. Kazuyoshi Miura inspired Yoichi Takahashi to create the Tsubasa Oozora character from the popular anime Captain Tsubasa.

Miura’s professional debut was in 1986 with Brazilian side Santos. He was the first player from Japan to win the coveted Asian Footballer of the Year prize in 1992 and he’s been with teams like Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb.

Miura has been with Yokohama FC since 2006 and the team is finally back in the J1 League.

After over 10 years in the J2 League, Yokohama FC, which was founded in 1999, earned promotion from the second-tier in 2019. The last time this team was in the top-flight was back in 2006. Back then, they were relegated after just one season.

Yokohama FC will be a playable team on FIFA 21, as EA Sports will probably license the J1 League once again. This will make Miura the only player from FIFA 96 to still be playing professionally.

Shunsuke Nakamura, the only two-time Most Valuable Player in the J1 League (2000 and 2013) is 42 years old and is also part of Yokohama FC.

Having these two iconic players on the same roster will make Yokohama FC one of the go-to teams for gamers on FIFA 21.

Miura was one of the first superstars of Japanese football when the J1 League launched in 1993. King Kazu joined Yokohama FC in 2005, after playing with Vissel Kobe for four years.