Approaching his 59th birthday in February, the world’s oldest active professional footballer is set to begin yet another chapter in his extraordinary career, entering what will be his 41st season.

Kazuyoshi Miura, affectionately known as “King Kazu” in Japan, announced this week that he has signed with Fukushima United, a third-division J-League club. He joins the team on loan from Yokohama FC, following a season-long loan spell with fourth-tier side Atletico Suzuka, where he appeared in seven matches without finding the net.

Miura’s career spans continents and decades. Since making his professional debut in 1986 with Brazil’s Santos — the legendary club associated with Pelé — he has played in leagues across Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia, Portugal and Japan.

In 2017, at the age of 50, Miura set a global milestone by becoming the oldest player to score in a professional match, surpassing a long-standing record held by former England great Stanley Matthews.

A trailblazer for Japanese football, Miura was among the country’s first major soccer stars. During the 1990s, he was a key figure for Japan’s national team, scoring 55 goals in 89 appearances and helping raise the sport’s profile nationwide.

Even as he nears 60, Miura continues to defy age, driven by an enduring passion for the game.

Source: AP