# Who is the best player in Japan national football team history?

> Rank the greatest players in Samurai Blue history — from Hidetoshi Nakata's Serie A brilliance to Keisuke Honda's three World Cup goals.

*By YPB Team · Published May 23, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-in-japan-national-football-team-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Hidetoshi Nakata**
   Japan's first global football superstar, a technically brilliant midfielder who excelled in Serie A at Perugia, AS Roma and Parma, inspiring a generation of Japanese players.
2. **Kazuyoshi Miura**
   Japan's record appearance holder known as 'King Kazu', a charismatic striker who has played professional football into his 50s and is an enduring symbol of the game in Japan.
3. **Shunsuke Nakamura**
   Maestro of the free kick who became a cult hero at Celtic with his spectacular curling efforts, representing Japan at three World Cups with grace and precision.
4. **Keisuke Honda**
   Determined and inspirational captain who scored at three consecutive World Cups, thriving at CSKA Moscow and AC Milan as one of Japan's most influential modern players.
5. **Shinji Kagawa**
   Quick, intelligent attacking midfielder who earned plaudits at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United, becoming a linchpin of Japan's 2010s golden generation.
6. **Yasuhito Endo**
   Japan's all-time most-capped outfield player with 152 appearances, a consistent and creative central midfielder who was the team's midfield general for over a decade.
7. **Yuto Nagatomo**
   Energetic left back who became a fan favourite at Inter Milan and Galatasaray, one of the most decorated Japanese players in European football history.
8. **Shinji Okazaki**
   Tireless striker who won the Premier League title with Leicester City and scored key goals for Japan across three World Cups, beloved for his relentless work ethic.
9. **Makoto Hasebe**
   Elegant and cerebral captain who has had an extraordinary career at Eintracht Frankfurt spanning over a decade, earning over 110 Japan caps as a reliable midfield anchor.
10. **Daichi Kamada**
   Technically gifted attacking midfielder who starred for Frankfurt in the Europa League and has become one of Japan's most creative modern internationals.
11. **Takumi Minamino**
   Versatile and energetic forward who played for Liverpool and Monaco, contributing goals and assists for Japan across multiple World Cup and Asian Cup campaigns.
12. **Takefusa Kubo**
   Supremely talented winger who joined Real Madrid as a teenager before flourishing at Real Sociedad, regarded as the next great hope of Japanese football.

Tags: sports, football, players, world cup