The oldest football player finds a new club at the age of 58

Kazuyoshi Miura, also known as “King Kazu”, is a Japanese football legend and is recognized as the oldest professional footballer still playing. He will turn 59 in February and remains active in professional football. Last season, he played for fourth-tier side Atletico Suzuka, making seven appearances for the club.

In 2026, “King Kazu” will continue his journey with a one-year loan move to Fukushima United. The club competes in Japan’s third division and finished 10th in the 2025 season. At his new club, Miura is expected to wear his iconic number 11, with his recent transfers often announced at 11:11am on January 11 as a nod to his shirt number.

Miura began his football journey in Brazil with legendary club Santos in 1986. After four years in Brazil, he returned to Japan and joined Verdy Kawasaki. During that period, he also had loan spells in Europe with clubs such as Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb. In 2005, Miura moved to Yokohama FC, where he played for many years before continuing his career across various Japanese clubs.

On the international stage, “King Kazu” made his debut for Japan in 1990. Despite scoring 55 goals in 89 appearances, he was controversially left out of Japan’s squad for their first-ever World Cup appearance in 1998. In 2000, he retired from international football and focus fully on his club career.

Across more than 40 years in professional football, Miura has won numerous trophies. In Brazil, he lifted the state league titles in 1986, 1987 and 1989. After returning to Japan, he won four consecutive domestic titles from 1990 to 1994 with Tokyo Verdy.

At international level, he won the AFC Asian Cup in 1992 and the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations in 1993. Individually, Miura was named Asian Footballer of the Year in 1992, AFC Asian Cup MVP in 1992, J.League MVP in 1993, the top scorer in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and J.League Top Scorer in 1996.