531: Kazuyoshi Miura, Japan, Panini World Cup France 98

Mat Jolin-Beech rounds off the longest international break in living history with a look at a man who makes the likes of Roger Milla look like an exciting youth prospect. It’s probably the kind of feel good story that should act as a tonic to anyone falling out of love with the game or wondering if their kids will still want the shiny new Manchester City kits when they’re playing King’s Lynn Town instead of Paris Saint-Germain. Over to Mat.

During one tedious afternoon at work, and thinking about not only the weekend’s disappointing results, terrible VAR calls, and the fact xG remains a thing we all ‘love’, it crossed my mind – am I falling out of love with the beautiful game?

First of all, is it actually beautiful anymore? When was the last game you watched that, regardless of any bias, you came away from thinking that was an amazing game? I genuinely can’t remember. The World Cup was dross, only made exciting by the world’s growing hatred for Argentina. I’ll leave that, and any political claims for what doesn’t belong to whom, there.

Then, the players themselves – who looks like they enjoy themselves playing anymore? They are all coached to death, and have to fit a system, or philosophy. Meat machines programmed to do a very specific role and only that role. Nothing else. I mean is left centre back in a back four really that different to playing as the middle centre back in a three? And when did wingback become a specific role that meant you’re terrible as either a fullback or winger? When was the last player you watched, who looked like they didn’t care about any of that, and were just enjoying themselves? That had a carefree attitude that smacked of I’m lucky to be getting paid to have fun?

I was going to say Ronaldinho. The way he played and showboated, was peak noughties Brazil. But, he’s not playing anymore, or wasn’t until a comeback at 46 for Serie C side Ravenna as he aims to score his 300th career goal. He is a part owner and his brand is commercially linked with the club so it’s maybe business as much as love for the game. However, the true love of the game must come with just wanting to go on and on playing – almost regardless of anything else.

Enter King Kazu. For those who don’t know the name of Kazuyoshi Miura, you will probably know him as the oldest professional footballer – who at 59 is still playing, currently for Fukushima United. His career started 42 seasons ago, back in 1986 with Brazilian club Santos. Five different decades. Over 1000 games. For context, I’m old and that was before I was born! He’s played for 17 different clubs, and had two brief stints in Europe firstly on loan in Serie A with Genoa in 1994/95, and then with Dynamo Zagreb in Croatia in 1999. He also has an international career spanning a decade (1990-2000) and he is the county’s second highest all time scorer with 55 goals in 89 games.

The fact that he is still playing, and having scored his first goal in four years earlier in 2026, shows a love for the game that has not dwindled. We should all be a bit more King Kazu and just enjoy the game for what it is. Let’s bin VAR, xG, pink boots, and half time shows, and lets get back to the beautiful game. And laughing at Argentina for losing to Spain.