Who is the best player in Japan national team history?

The Samurai Blue have transformed from Asian football minnows to World Cup knockout-stage regulars in a single generation. From 1960s pioneers to modern Bundesliga stars, who is Japan's greatest?

1

Hidetoshi Nakata

Japan's trailblazer in European football, an elegant midfielder who earned Serie A title medals at Roma and Parma and elevated the profile of Japanese football globally.

2

Kazuyoshi Miura

'King Kazu,' Japan's most iconic footballer, a charismatic striker who turned professional in Brazil and continued playing into his 50s, breaking records for longevity.

3

Kunishige Kamamoto

Japan's all-time leading scorer and the team's first true star, a prolific forward who scored six goals at the 1968 Olympics and is considered the father of modern Japanese football.

4

Shunsuke Nakamura

Technically gifted, elegant playmaker famous for his precise left foot and free kicks, who starred for Celtic and Reggina and delivered Japan's greatest World Cup qualifying moments.

5

Keisuke Honda

Strong, technically excellent attacking midfielder who excelled at CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, and PSV Eindhoven, Japan's most assertive and successful modern-era big-club player.

6

Shinji Kagawa

Intelligent, quick-thinking attacking midfielder who starred for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United, widely regarded as Japan's greatest technical footballer of the Premier League era.

7

Makoto Hasebe

Japan's most capped player and long-serving captain, a defensive midfielder of exceptional composure who enjoyed a 15-year career at the top of the Bundesliga.

8

Yoshida Maya

Commanding, experienced centre-back who captained Japan for many years and competed at the top level in England, Italy, and the Netherlands.

9

Takumi Minamino

Energetic, hard-working forward who played for Liverpool and Monaco, a reliable goalscorer and pressing machine who thrived at the highest level in Europe.

10

Ritsu Doan

Creative, explosive winger who excelled at PSV Eindhoven and Freiburg, delivering crucial World Cup goals and establishing himself as one of Asia's best modern players.

11

Gamba Inamoto

Enterprising attacking midfielder who became the first Japanese player to score a goal in the English Premier League and was a key figure for Japan around the 2002 World Cup.

12

Naohiro Takahara

Powerful, clinical striker who scored 12 goals in 60 international appearances and enjoyed stints in the Bundesliga, a consistent performer at the highest level.

13

Seigo Narazaki

Japan's most reliable goalkeeper for a decade, producing outstanding performances at the 2002 World Cup co-hosted on home soil and in multiple Asian Cup tournaments.

14

Daisuke Matsui

Creative, technically gifted playmaker who starred in Ligue 1 for several years and was a key performer for Japan in the 2010 World Cup where they reached the round of 16.