Who is Kazuyoshi Miura - World's oldest professional footballer?

The 55-year-old recently joined Portuguese second-tier side Oliveirense on loan from Yokohama

Kazuyoshi Miura, the world's oldest active professional footballer, has signed for Portuguese second-tier side Oliveirense on loan from Yokohama FC. The journey continues for 55-year-old Miura, who has signed for Liga Portugal 2 side Oliveirense on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season. The move also means that Miura becomes the oldest person to ever play for a professional ball sports team in Portugal. The Japanese forward previously said he plans to play until he is 60.

Miura is affectionately known as "King Kazu" in Japan. The latest move by the former Japan international. Now in his 38th year as a professional, will see him play in a fifth foreign country following stints in Brazil, Italy, Croatia and Australia. The forward has featured for clubs like Santos, Palmeiras, Genoa, Sydney FC and Dynamo Zagreb.

While many modern fans might not be familiar with the name, Miura was a football superstar in the 1990s. He played for the Japan national team from 1990 to 2000 and was the first Japanese recipient of the IFFHS Asia's Footballer of the Year award. Miura returned to Europe from Japan in 1999 when he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. He is also known for his trademark "Kazu Feint" and his famous "Kazu dance", when he scores great goals or produces great plays. He won titles in Japan and Croatia.

In 2012, at the age of 45, Miura made his debut for the Japan futsal team in a 3–3 draw against Brazil. In the 2012 Futsal World Cup, Miura appeared in all four matches for Japan but failed to score as the Japanese were knocked out by Ukraine in the round of 16.

Miura holds the record for being the oldest goalscorer in the J-League. Miura’s rise to fame coincided with the launch of Japan’s top-tier football competition J-League in 1993 and was arguably Japan's first superstar in football.  The star forward was part of the Japanese side that won the 1992 Asian Games. He also featured at the 1994 Asian Games, the 1995 King Fahd Cup and the 1996 Asian Cup. He played 89 times for Japan, winning the Asian Cup in 1992, and is the country's second-highest all-time scorer with 55 goals.

Kazuyoshi Miura has become the oldest active professional goal-scorer in history. The Japanese star etched his name into football's history books. Once again after slotting home a penalty for Suzuka Point Getters. The previous record for the oldest goal-scorer in the JFL was 42 years and 50 days set by ex-FC Ryukyu player Hideki Nagai back in 2013.