Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ;  June 1: Japan’s Yuto Nagatomo is set to participate in his fifth World Cup, becoming the first Asian player in history to achieve this milestone.

Surpassing legends like South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo and Saudi Arabia’s Sami Al-Jaber, Nagatomo is now the only Asian footballer to have played in five World Cups. In the current Japanese squad, he is the only player who plays in his home country’s domestic league.

He first appeared on the World Cup stage in South Africa in 2010, when Japan reached the Round of 16. Following that tournament, he was called up from Inter Milan, where he spent seven years playing over 200 matches. He later joined Galatasaray and Marseille before returning to his home club FC Tokyo in 2021.

Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu has emphasized the importance of Nagatomo maintaining his composure while guiding younger players on controlling their emotions. He said, “He is going to his fifth World Cup. He is an Asian hero. He knows both the successes and shortcomings of the previous four tournaments. I want the players to remain calm and perform to their best, though the pressure of the World Cup is far greater than imagination.”

Standing at the threshold of his fifth World Cup, Nagatomo remarked, “I want to share everything I have learned with the team so that we can aim for the trophy. Last time I played with great passion and enthusiasm, but this time my inner determination and spirit have grown even stronger. I hope we are all ready for an exciting experience.”