Being a footballer is literally a short career if often lucrative compared to most jobs, as most players will hang up their boots following 15-20 years at the top. with few proceeding beyond the age of 35.
It’s slightly extraordinary for goalkeepers, with many playing on until 37 or 38-years of age.
Such is not the case of Kazuyoshi Miura, who is honored by Guinness World Records as both the oldest player and the oldest goalscorer in professional football history, taking both records from the legendary Sir Stanley Matthews, who quit the sporting scene at age 50.
Miura is a Japanese evergreen striker who holds the records for being the oldest footballer and oldest goalscorer in world professional leagues at the age of 52 (turns 53 in February. He retired from international football 20 years ago, after winning 89 caps for Japan.
King Kazu, as Miura is known in Japan was born in the same month as Italy legend Roberto Baggio, who retired in 2004. In 2017, he broke former Stoke, Blackpool and England player Sir Stanley Matthews’ record as the oldest professional to score a goal. His 30-plus-year career has included stints in Brazil, Italy, and Croatia.
In 1982, at just 15 years of age, Miura left Japan to travel to Brazil to pursue his football career. He was eventually signed by Santos, for whom he made his professional debut in 1986 at the age of 19. The Japanese left Santos for Palmeiras later that same year.
He played for the Japanese national team from 1990 to 2000 and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Footballer of the Year award in 1993, the last year before it was adopted by the Asian Football Confederation. Miura, whose rise to fame in Japan coincided with the launch of the J.League in 1993 and was arguably Japan’s first superstar in football.
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Known for his trademark “Kazu Feint ” and his famous “Kazu dance”, when he scores great goals or produces great plays; Miura was top scorer and most valuable player in the inaugural Japanese J.League season in 1993, seeing off star imports such as Gary Lineker and Zico to both accolades.
Below are some of Kazuyoshi Miura’s Milestone achievements:
Kazuyoshi Miura made his Japan debut in 1990 and fired the country to their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998 by scoring 14 goals in the qualifying round. However, he was controversially omitted from the final squad for France and retired from international football two years later, having scored 55 goals in 89 appearances. He has played 36,932 minutes across his career, scoring 162 goals in total, received 29 yellow cards, and never got a red. Massive!
He has played in Europe for Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb, winning the Croatian league title with the latter in 1999. Miura joined current club Yokohama FC as a 38-year-old in 2005. He has since made more than 250 league appearances for the club
Miura as of April 2019 has netted 175 times in 645 appearances with just 31 assists. At 52 and still going, Miura has just signed the dotted lines to play in the J1 League, Japan’s top division, for the 2020 season.
Yokohama FC’s first game in the division, on 23 February, will be a way to Vissel Kobe, for whom one Andres Iniesta – the Spaniard and Barcelona great – play. This will be the first time Miura has played in the top division since 2007 when he was 40. Think about that. What were you doing in 2007?
Other Oldest footballer
Stanley Matthews
Oldest Age While Playing: 50
Country of Origin: England
Last Team: Stoke City Football Club
Years Played: 1932 – 1965
Career Length: 33 years
Andrea Pierobon
Oldest Age While Playing: 45
Country of Origin: Italy
Last Team: Associazione Sportiva Cittadella
Years Played: 1987 – 2015
Career Length: 28 years
Aleksandar Đurić
Oldest Age While Playing: 44
Country of Origin: Yugoslavia
Last Team: Tampines Rovers Football Club
Years Played: 1992 – 2014
Career Length: 22 years
Marco Ballotta
Oldest Age While Playing: 43
Country of Origin: Italy
Last Team: Società Sportiva Lazio
Years Played: 1982 – 2008
Career Length: 26 years
Faryd Mondragón
Oldest Age While Playing: 43
Country of Origin: Colombia
Last Team: Deportivo Cali
Years Played: 1990 – 2014
Career Length: 24 years
John Burridge
Oldest Age While Playing: 46
Country of Origin: England
Last Team: Blyth Spartans
Years Played: 1969 – 1997
Career Length: 28 years
