Greatest of All Time: 8 Best Japanese Football Players in History

November 15, 2024 | 07:33 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Japan is certainly not a novice player in the football scene, having been included in some of the ruthless matches for World Cup classifications. With Spain, Germany, and Belgium under the country’s long list of rivals, Japan has fortuitously established its name as one of the strongest and most successful Asian teams.

Recently, Ritsu Doan’s grandeur performance in the field has shifted the focus on Japanese soccer’s refinement, garnering more attention to his predecessors. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best Japanese football players in history, according to TokyoWeekender and GiveMeSport. 

8 Best Japanese Football Players of All Time 

Before there was Kaoru Mimota, prominent figures such as Kunishige Kamamoto and Hidetoshi Nakata set precedents in the early years of the Japanese football industry. Read on to discover 8 of the greatest Japanese football players, each with their distinctive flourishing milestones.  

1. Kunishige Kamamoto 

Hailed as the Japanese Footballer of the Year for seven consecutive years, Kunishige Kamamoto set an outstanding record of 202 goals, leading him to be an all-time top scorer for the country. He kicked off his football career with Yanmar Diesel, also known as Cerezo Osaka, in the Japan Soccer League, where he achieved four league titles. His career took off as he played for his home country in memorable matches during the 1968 Olympics, scoring against France, Brazil, and Mexico. 

2. Hidetoshi Nakata 

The two-time Asian Player of the Year award-winner, Hidetoshi Nakata, was the field’s rising star, gathering demands from local and international clubs. As Serie A’s second Japanese player, he had remarkable moments with 10 goals recorded, which led him to join Roma in 2000. Nakata later helped Roma break its 18-year drought by winning the match against Juventus and securing the Serie A title with the club. 

3. Shunsuke Nakamura

Despite earning the title of brightest young talent in the country, Nakamura is more well known as Celtic’s legend, who has lifted multiple trophies during his time in the team. His influence in Scotland was further underlined when he scored two free kicks against Manchester United. For 26 years, Nakamura has enjoyed a brilliant career, winning 98 caps for his country and lifting the Asian Cup twice. 

4. Shinji Okazaki 

Within the topic of the best Japanese football players, Shinji Okazaki is often left out of the discussion. Even so, Okazaki was a key player that brought victory to Leicester City in the 2016 Premier League title and scored 50 goals for the national team. He was also voted as the Asian footballer of the year ahead of prominent names like Shinji Kagawa and Son Heung-min of South Korea.   

5. Shinji Kagawa 

Shinji Kagawa was an undeniable lucky charm to Borussia Dortmund during the earlier days of his career, integral in winning the club its Bundesliga in 2012. Kagawa was still a major name in the following season, where he scored a goal during a competitive match against Bayern Munich. However, heated debates emerged after his transfer to Manchester United in 2013, with some describing his performance as underwhelming.  

6. Yuto Nagatomo

Currently signed with FC Tokyo in the J.League, Yuto Nagatomo spent seven years with Inter Milan in Europe. Although his time in Series A wasn’t exactly the brightest, Nagatomo still managed to lift the Italian Cup in 2011 with the club. Today, he is considered a fierce defender whose market value reaches $184k. 

7. Keisuke Honda

Keisuke Honda was next to influential footballers like David Beckham, Rudi Voller, Arjen Robben, Asamoah Gyan, and Grzegorz Lato as the only players to ever score goals at three World Cups before 2018. His massive impact on Japan's growing football scene traces way back to 2010, when his goal against Denmark successfully secured a spot for the country during World Cup qualification. 

8. Makoto Hasebe 

Makoto Hasebe has captained Japan three times during World Cup tournaments and played for various clubs, ranging from Urawa Red Diamonds, VfL Wolfsburg, and FC Nürnberg. The most recent one is Eintracht Frankfurt, in which Hasebe along with his Japanese teammate Daichi Kamada helped the club win the DFB-Pokal in 2018. 

With a new generation of players on the rise, the achievements of the best Japanese football players not only inspire but also set a powerful foundation for what’s to come. 

Tokyo Weekender | GiveMeSport

Editor’s Choice: Flashback: Indonesia Crushes Japan 7-0 in 1968 Merdeka Cup

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