Kazuyoshi Miura, 59, scores in Emperor’s Cup rout as ‘King Kazu’ extends extraordinary career

Kazuyoshi Miura underlined his status as one of football’s most enduring figures by scoring a competitive goal at the age of 59, helping Fukushima United to a 7-0 win over Iwaki Furukawa in the Emperor’s Cup.

The Japanese forward, universally known as “King Kazu”, struck in the 52nd minute, turning in a precise pass inside the penalty area with a first-time finish to make the score 5-0. The goal came when he was 59 years and 149 days old, further cementing his place in the sport’s record books.

Miura’s strike sparked jubilant celebrations among his Fukushima United team-mates on the pitch and on the bench, before the veteran was substituted three minutes later to warm applause from the crowd and coaching staff.

The emphatic victory sends Fukushima United through to the next round of the Emperor’s Cup, with Miura’s goal the standout moment on a night that added another chapter to his remarkable career.

First official goal since 2022

The effort against Iwaki Furukawa was Miura’s first goal in an official match since November 2022, when he scored for Suzuka PG – now known as Atletico Suzuka – in a league fixture his side ultimately lost to FC Osaka in Japanese league competition.

That strike for Suzuka PG had been widely seen as another late-career milestone. Now, almost two years later, Miura has once again found the net in a professional game, underlining his ability to keep competing long after most players have retired.

Despite the passing years, the former Japan international continues to defy expectations, maintaining both his physical condition and his appetite for the game. His persistence has turned an already long career into what is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional in football history.

Record-breaking longevity

Miura is preparing for what will be his 42nd professional season – a figure regarded as a world record for a playing career at the professional level.

He has extended his loan with Fukushima United until June 2027, ensuring that his time in the professional game will stretch into the next decade of his life.

The striker joined Fukushima United from Yokohama in December last year and featured in six matches during the shortened 2026 season before finally ending his latest goal drought with his strike in the Emperor’s Cup.

Turning 60 as a professional

Japanese professional leagues are set to switch to an autumn-to-spring calendar, and that change means Miura is on course to celebrate his 60th birthday while still registered as a professional footballer.

If he does so, it will add another remarkable layer to a career already seen as one of the longest and most storied in the sport.

By continuing to play and score at an age when most former professionals have long since left the pitch, “King Kazu” is reinforcing his belief that passion and determination can push back the limits usually imposed by time.