Kazu Miura Is Now The Oldest Professional Footballer Of All Time

Kazu Miura has broken Sir Stanley Matthews’ record as the oldest professional footballer of all time* after playing 54 minutes in Yokohama FC’s 1-1 draw with V-Varen Nagasaki in the Japanese J2 League. The record now stands at 50 years and seven days with Miura, and, since he signed a one-year contract extension before the season, he’ll continue to build on that mark for some time to come.

#MondayMotivation
Kazu Miura has surpassed Sir Stanley Matthews' legendary longevity, playing in a professional match aged 50 years & 7 days pic.twitter.com/BAHBM86SCm

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) March 6, 2017

While a professional career that began in 1986 has taken its toll on the man that scored 55 goals in 89 matches for the Japanese national team, Miura has no intention of stopping while he remains healthy and enjoying his football.

“I hope to keep fighting with all my might together with people involved with the club, my teammates and supporters who have always given me support,” Kazu told FIFA.com earlier this year.

Last season, he scored two goals in 20 appearances for the club.

Miura’s personal story is remarkable. He travelled alone to Brazil after high school to pursue his footballing dreams. He spent seven years there, playing and scoring for both Santos and Coritiba. 

He’s played extensively in Japan, but he’s also appeared for Italy’s Genoa, Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb and Australia’s Sydney FC. Miura played a vital role in helping Japan to their first World Cup finals in 1998, but he was controversially omitted from Japan’s final squad for the tournament.

*Reyes Monteon made an honorary appearance (lasting one-touch) for Chivas in 2008, aged 71.