[MF/FW] Takumi Minamino / SAMURAI BLUE member in the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

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position:MF/FW
Birthplace:Osaka Prefecture
date of birth:January 5, 1995
Height/Weight:174cm／68kg
Team affiliation:Cerezo Osaka U-15 → Cerezo Osaka U-18 → Cerezo Osaka → Salzburg (Austria) → Liverpool FC (England) → Southampton (England) → Liverpool FC (England) → AS Monaco (France)

Senior national team history (data)

Main career history

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

2010: Japan U-16 Team
2011Year: Japan U-18 representative, Japan U-17 representative (U-17 W Cup)
2012: Japan U-17 Team
2013: Japan U-18 Team
2014: Japan U-19 National Team (AFC U-19 Championship), Japan U-21 National Team
2015: Representative of U-22 Japan, Representative of A
2016: Japan U-23 National Team (Rio de Janeiro Olympics, U-23 Championship)
2019: Senior National Team, AFC Asian Cup
2022: Senior National Team, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Achievements in the league to which they belong

He belonged to the junior youth team of his hometown club, Cerezo Osaka. He steadily rose through the ranks, progressing from the youth team to the top team, and his first league goal, scored at the age of 18 years, 5 months, and 20 days against Jubilo Iwata, broke the club's record for the youngest goalscorer in the J1 League, previously held by Yoshito Okubo. In 2015, he made a permanent transfer to FC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, taking on the challenge of playing in an overseas league at the young age of 20.

He spent about five years at Salzburg, accumulating a wealth of experience, before moving to Liverpool FC in the English Premier League in 2019. He became the club's first Asian player. Although his playing time was limited in a team that boasted one of the world's best attacking forces at the time, he showcased his abilities in cup competitions. He scored 3 goals in 4 FA Cup matches, contributing to their victory. In 2022, he joined AS Monaco in France's Ligue 1. In his second season with the club, 2023-24, he appeared in 31 official matches, scoring 9 goals and providing 6 assists, and was named the club's Player of the Year.

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[An astonishing comeback] Takumi Minamino's glorious journey of overcoming adversity

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Achievements and career with the Japanese national team

He was selected for various age-group national teams, starting with the U-15 Japan national team, and was a representative player of his generation. He was first selected for the senior national team in October 2015 for the FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers 2nd Round and AFC Asian Cup UAE Qualifiers. He scored his first goal for the senior national team in September 2018 in the Kirin Challenge Cup against Costa Rica. Since then, he has been consistently called up to the national team.

In 2022, he was selected for the FIFA World Cup Qatar squad, where he wore the number 10 jersey. In the first round of the group stage against Germany, he came on as a substitute and created scoring opportunities, giving the team momentum. In September 2024, he also performed well in the first match of the FIFA World Cup 26 Asian Qualifiers against China, and was named MVP of that match.

Playing style

He supports the team both offensively and defensively with his abundant stamina and excellent finishing ability. His strengths include a variety of techniques that lead to goals and a keen nose for exploiting open spaces, and he consistently performs well whether he is a starter or a substitute. Jürgen Klopp, who was the manager of Liverpool FC where he played, said, "He always gives his best in daily training," and his diligence is highly regarded in Europe.