Japan's King Kazu Plays 40th Professional Football Season At 58

Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura, at 58 years old, has made his first appearance in his 40th professional football season, playing as a late substitute for Atletico Suzuka in Japan's fourth tier. Despite a leg injury earlier this year, Miura expressed his desire to continue playing and improve his performance, demonstrating remarkable longevity in professional football. Having started his career in Brazil with Santos in 1986 and played in various countries including Italy, Croatia, Australia, and Portugal, Miura has been a significant figure in Japanese football, helping to raise its profile since the launch of the J-League in 1993. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan but was notably excluded from the 1998 World Cup squad. While he is not yet close to breaking the oldest professional player record held by Egypt's Ezzeldin Bahader at 74, Miura shows no intention of retiring, stating he has never felt the desire to quit and continues to push himself. His enduring commitment highlights an extraordinary career spanning nearly four decades.