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?

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.

1/14

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.

2/14

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.

3/14

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.

4/14

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.

5/14

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.

6/14

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.

7/14

Yoshida Maya

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

8/14

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.

9/14

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.

10/14

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.

11/14

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.

12/14

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.

13/14

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.

14/14