In football, fans get excited to see highly talented youngsters come into their football clubs’ first teams. However, it is easy to forget sometimes the benefits that older and more experienced players can bring to a team.
One such experienced player is Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura, the world’s oldest professional football player, who is still playing at the age of 57 years old.
Where did it all start for Kazuyoshi Miura?
Miura’s professional story began in 1982 when he left his native Japan to pursue his dream of playing professional football in Brazil. He then joined Brazil’s giant Santos’ youth team.
He stayed in Brazil for eight years, playing for Santos and appearing for Palmeiras, Coritiba, and CRB from 1986, when he made his professional debut.
➔ 1982: It debuted professionally in Brazil.
➔ 1986: Returns to his country.
➔ 1990: Premiere with Japan’s senior team
➔ 1994: Become the first Japanese to play in Italy’s A Series.
➔ 2000: Removed from the selection.
➔ 2017: Becomes the oldest professional footballer (50… pic.twitter.com/ibcqY6A65F— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) June 24, 2023
The striker struggled for first-team football in his time in South America, with the most appearances he made coming for Palmeiras, where he made 25 appearances and scored two goals in 1986.
While the Japanese star may not have played that regularly, playing in Brazil will have been an education in football and life.
He moved away from home at a young age and learned about the beautiful game in one of the foremost countries for football education. His time in Brazil certainly set him up for a long career in the beautiful game.
A big success in his homeland
Miura was already regarded as something of a star when he returned to his native Japan in 1990 with Yomiuri, who eventually became Verdy Kawasaki, also known as Tokyo Verdy.
His career in Tokyo lasted until 1998, interrupted with just a brief loan spell with Serie A outfit Genoa in season 1994/95. He became the first East Asian to play in the Italian top flight. He scored just one goal in his 21 appearances in Italy.
However, Miura really made a name for himself with Verdy Kawasaki. He was prolific in Inagi, scoring 110 goals in 187 appearances in all competitions.
During his time in the country’s capital, Miura won the Japanese top-flight title on four occasions, two in the Japan Soccer League era and two during the days of the J. League, among numerous other domestic competitions.
On an individual level, the forward won the J. League Golden Boot in 1996 and was voted the league’s MVP player in 1993. In 1992, he was also the first player to win the Asian Footballer of the Year award.
The fact that he was also in the J. League Best XI on three occasions in 1993, 1995, and 1996 illustrated how successful he was in the Japanese top flight.
Miura also made his international debut for the Samurai Blue during this period. He played for the national team until 2000, making 89 appearances and scoring 55 goals.
He finished as the top goalscorer in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, once again illustrating his eye for goal.
Moving on from Verdy

Miura attempted his hand on foreign shores in 1999 when he moved to Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb. Unfortunately for Miura, he struggled for goals at Dinamo, failing to score in 12 appearances.
After an unsuccessful trial at the English club Bournemouth, he returned to his homeland with Kyoto Purple Sanga, where he spent two seasons, scoring 24 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions.
After that two-year spell, he joined Vissel Kobe, where he played for five years, scoring 29 goals in 127 appearances.
At the age of 38, Miura joined Yokohama FC in 2005, helping the club win promotion to the J1 League in 2007. Incredibly, Miura would stay contracted to the club for 18 years, during which time he featured on 293 occasions, scoring 27 times.
It was during his spell with Yokohama FC that the striker broke numerous records. In March 2017, at 50 years and seven days, Miura became the oldest player to ever feature in a professional match, as he started in a 1-1 draw against V-Varen Nagasaki.
English star Stanley Matthews previously held the record. A week later, the forward also broke Matthews’s record for being the oldest professional goalscorer, as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Thespakusatsu Gunma.
The latest phase of his career
Miura played his final game for Yokohama FC in 2021. He agreed to join fourth-tier Suzuka Point Getters on loan in December 2021. The forward made his debut on 13th March 2022 at the age of 55.
On October 30th 2022, the veteran striker became the oldest player to ever score in the Japan Football League, scoring in a 3-1 victory over Tiamo Hirakata. He extended that record on 12th November 2022, scoring at the age of 55 years and 259 days old.
On 26th January 2023, Miura joined Portuguese second-tier outfit Oliveirense for the remainder of the campaign. The deal happened as the owner of Yokohama, Onodera Group, became the majority shareholder in the Portuguese outfit the previous November.
The forward made his debut for Oliveirense on 22nd April at the age of 56. In the end, he made nine appearances for the club from Portugal in a season and a half.
In June 2024, Miura returned to Suzuka Point Getters (now renamed Atletico Suzuka) on loan. On September 29th, 2024, he extended his record as the oldest player to score in the Japan Football League, scoring at the age of 57 years and 216 days. At the time of writing, Miura has made ten appearances for Atletico Suzuka in his second spell.
@skysportsfootball Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura, who is widely recognised as world football’s oldest active professional, trains with his new side after returning to Japan to continue his career 💪 #football #footballtiktok #oldest #career #japan #striker ♬ original sound – Sky Sports Football
Incredibly, Miura is contracted to Atletico Suzuka until June 2026, when he will be a month short of his 59th birthday. His story is unbelievable.
The fact that Kazuyoshi Miura is still playing professional football is a big testament to the player’s determination, love of the game, and self-discipline to keep himself physically fit to continue playing.
His story is unique, as there are few if any, other players who will still be playing professionally in their 50s. It will be a sad day when Kazuyoshi Miura hangs up his boots, as he is a shining example to young players of how to maintain themselves and extend their football careers.
Fortunately, Miura is not yet ready to call time on his playing career, which is incredible. No doubt the forward’s exploits will be talked about for a long time to come.