Japanese soccer icon and the world's oldest professional footballer, Kazuyoshi Miura, scored his first competitive goal in nearly four years on Saturday. At 59 years and 149 days old, the man affectionately known as King Kazu found the net as third-tier side Fukushima United defeated Iwaki Furukawa 7-0 to advance in the Emperor's Cup.
Miura scored in the 52nd minute to put Fukushima 5-0 ahead, finishing a trademark run into the box by meeting a teammate's cutback with a first-time strike. The goal sparked celebrations among his teammates on the pitch and the bench before the veteran forward was substituted three minutes later.
This marked Miura's first competitive goal since November 2022, when he scored for Suzuka PG, now Atletico Suzuka, during a Japan Football League defeat by FC Osaka. The former Japan international is now preparing for a remarkable 42nd professional season.
Having joined Fukushima United from Yokohama FC in December, Miura has extended his loan spell with the club until June 2027. As Japan's professional leagues transition from a spring-to-autumn schedule to an autumn-to-spring calendar, Miura is set to enter his 60s still playing professionally.