TOKYO (AP) 鈥� Kazuyoshi Miura, the Japanese soccer player they call 鈥淜ing Kazu,鈥� says he鈥檚 only getting better with age.
If so, that should make him very, very good.
Miura turns 59 next month. He鈥檚 the globe鈥檚 oldest professional soccer player, and on Friday he gave a news conference in Tokyo to celebrate joining his new team 鈥� third-division J-League club Fukushima United FC.
鈥淢y passion only grows the more I pursue it,鈥� Miura said. 鈥淓ven though I鈥檓 getting older 鈥� I鈥檒l be 59 this year 鈥� I feel my passion is actually increasing.鈥�
Miura is moving on loan from Yokohama FC and spent last season on loan with fourth-division club Atletico Suzuka.
He failed to score in seven matches with Suzuka.
Miura has played professionally in Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. And of course in Japan. He made his debut in 1986 with Santos in Brazil, a club made famous by Brazilian star Pel茅.
In 2017 at age 50, he became the . That topped the record held by highly decorated England international Stanley Matthews.
Miura was one of the first big names in Japanese soccer. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearance for Japan鈥檚 national team in the 1990s.
鈥淚 have a strong desire to play in matches and perform well,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I鈥檒l prepare thoroughly and give everything I have to accomplish that.鈥�
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
