Former Japan striker Kazuyoshi Miura makes Oliveirense debut at 56 years old

Former Japan striker Kazu Miura watches an Oliveirsense game after signing on loan for the Portuguese club in 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Former Japan striker Kazuyoshi Miura has become the oldest player to appear for a professional Portuguese club after coming on as a late substitute for Oliveirense against Academico de Viseu on Sunday.

Miura, who is affectionately known as 'King Kazu', joined the second-tier club on loan from Yokohama FC in his homeland in January.

The 56-year-old had not featured until now, but came on as a substitute in the 90th minute of Oliveirense's 4-1 win over Academico de Viseu on Sunday.

"He becomes the oldest footballer ever to play in Portuguese football, with 56 years, one month and 24 days," Oliveirense said on their website.

Now in his 38th season as a professional footballer, Miura has played for multiple clubs in a number of countries, including Brazil's Palmeiras, Italy's Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.

The striker won 89 caps for Japan and was part of the team which claimed the Asian Cup in 1992. He is the nation's second-highest scorer with 55 goals, but made his last international appearance in 2000.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.