Yuto Nagatomo, a reliable member of the Japanese national team who leads the team with his physical and mental strength, fights for his fifth World Cup

Strengthening his physical condition through strict training! Also his ability to lead the team as a mood maker

Nagatomo is a Japanese national team defender who, although not particularly tall at 170cm, possesses the physical strength and athletic ability to compete with even the biggest forwards on the world stage.

Nagatomo started playing soccer at the age of 7. Although he hails from Higashi Fukuoka, a school known for being a powerhouse in high school soccer, he was never selected for the Fukuoka Prefecture team, nor did he enter Meiji University on a sports recommendation. However, while attending Meiji University, he attracted attention when he was selected for the All-Japan University Team in 2006, and in his first year as a professional in 2008, he won both the J.League Outstanding Player Award and the Outstanding Rookie Award with FC Tokyo. After the FIFA World Cup, he moved to Cesena in the Italian first division (Serie A) in 2010. He then moved to Inter Milan, shocking soccer fans not only in Japan but all over the world.

He is also a significant player in that he has established his position as a full-back in the Japanese soccer world. He is stoic, having trained his core and conditioned himself so that he won't be outdone by foreign players, and he plays tenaciously in one-on-one situations to seize the ball. He is a high-level player on both sides of the field, and is not only agile but also has a bright personality, which is a big attraction. He is a mood-maker who livens up the team.

Hoping for a fifth World Cup that makes use of experience gained

Japan's 2024 schedule was completed when they faced China in the FIFA World Cup 26 Asian final qualifying round. The year 2024 started with the TOYO TIRES CUP 2024 held at the National Stadium on New Year's Day, and they went on to compete in the AFC Asian Cup, the second round of Asian qualifying, and the third round of Asian final qualifying round, taking the lead with 16 points from 5 wins and 1 draw. Everyone acknowledges the presence and positive impact of Nagatomo, the oldest player at 38 years old, since returning to the national team in the March series, but despite being selected for the Japanese national team, he was not on the bench for all six of the final qualifying matches.

Nagatomo has qualified for the 5th World Cup since the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His experience and presence in the final qualifying rounds will no doubt contribute to the team's stability and unity.

In 2025, the seventh to tenth rounds of the Asian final qualifying rounds will be held in March and June, completing the entire schedule. The next match will be between Japan and Bahrain on March 20th at Saitama Stadium 2002. We hope to see them show off their physical strength and tenacious defense.

*The information in this article has been edited and distributed based on the content at the time of broadcast.