Kazuyoshi Miura, the 59-year-old Japanese forward known as "King Kazu," scored his first competitive goal in nearly four years as his team, Fukushima United, secured a 7-0 victory in an Emperor’s Cup qualifying match against Iwaki Furukawa FC. The goal came in the 52nd minute of the match, marking a milestone in Miura’s 41st professional season.
Miura, who has had a storied career spanning several decades, connected with a cross from teammate Takatora Einaga and managed to outmaneuver two defenders before finishing confidently inside the box. This marked his first goal since November 2022, ending a lengthy scoring drought.
Reflecting on the goal and the match, Miura said that despite the large margin of victory, the team’s ability to celebrate the goal together brought him great joy. “Even when we were already way ahead, the players, staff, and fans were all able to celebrate that one goal together with such joy,” he said. He also expressed gratitude toward the coach for the continued opportunity to play and contributed to the collective success.
Miura began his professional career in 1986 with Brazilian club Santos and has since played in a number of countries, including Italy, Croatia, Australia, and Portugal. He played a significant role in raising the profile of Japanese football when the J-League was inaugurated in 1993. Miura made his debut for the Japan national team in 1990 and scored 55 goals in 89 appearances. Despite his prolific record, he was notably excluded from Japan’s squad for their first World Cup finals tournament in 1998.
In January, Miura joined Fukushima United on loan, hoping to repay the club’s confidence in him through goals and assists. Prior to that, he spent the previous season with Atletico Suzuka, a fourth-tier Japanese club, where he made eight appearances without scoring, as the team faced relegation to regional leagues.
Miura continues to defy age-related expectations in professional football, demonstrating longevity and commitment as one of the game’s enduring figures in Japan.