Story byYokohama FC's Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura, oldest footballer to score competitive goal, speaks during an interview with Reuters after a training session in Yokohama, Japan, March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Toru HanaiBy Irene WangFri, January 9, 2026 at 11:43 AM UTC·2 min readBy Irene WangTOKYO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Japan soccer great Kazuyoshi Miura, 58, said on Friday he had all but given up on a return to the J-League before signing for Fukushima United, adding that he hopes to contribute with goals and assists in the latest chapter of his age-defying career. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMiura, known as 'King Kazu', signed a loan deal last month with the Japanese third division side, setting him up for his 41st season as a professional footballer. The move brings him back to the J-League, Japan's top three tiers of professional football, for the first time since 2021."My passion grows, the more I pursue it (my career). Though I'm getting older - this year I will turn 59, I feel that my passion is only growing," Miura told reporters in Tokyo."While I was in the Japan Football League (fourth-tier), I felt that I wouldn't be able to return to the J-League unless my team was promoted.
