The indefatigable Kazuyoshi Miura, recognized as the world's oldest professional footballer, has made history once again by scoring his first competitive goal in nearly four years. The 59-year-old striker found the back of the net for Fukushima United, a team in Japan’s third division, during a resounding 7-0 thrashing of Iwaki Furukawa in the Emperor’s Cup on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
Affectionately known as "King Kazu," Miura is currently playing in his 42nd professional season. His milestone goal ended a challenging run of 34 matches without scoring, with his previous goal coming back in November 2022 during his time with Atlético Suzuka. Reflecting on the historic moment, the veteran forward expressed his gratitude, saying, "Seeing the players, the coaching staff and the fans celebrate that goal together made me incredibly happy."
Miura, who first turned professional with Brazilian club Juventus-SP in 1986, has enjoyed a globetrotting career that includes stints at prominent clubs such as Santos, Genoa, and Dinamo Zagreb. The former Japan international has no plans to slow down, with his career set to continue at least until June 2027.
In other global football developments, Al-Nassr faced a major setback in Saudi Arabia as an ugly mistake by Brazilian goalkeeper Bento delayed Cristiano Ronaldo's first title in the country. Al-Nassr was leading 1-0 until the 53rd minute of the second half on Tuesday, but Bento's howler ultimately prevented CR7's team from securing the Saudi League title.
Meanwhile, in England, the Premier League has issued an official statement explaining why Tottenham Hotspur were not awarded a penalty in their draw against Leeds. The decision denied Spurs midfielder James Maddison a major moment on his return from injury as the clock ticked down in the match.
In Spain, Athletic Club is stepping up its pre-season preparations ahead of their upcoming season opener against Sevilla. Star forward Iñaki Williams is back with the squad, returning to Athletic pre-season training after completing his World Cup duty. Elsewhere in Spanish football, Mikel Vesga is reportedly nearing a move to the Segunda division, with indications that he is set to sign for Almería.
Over in Argentina, Barracas Central have taken disciplinary action by dropping Gonzalo Morales from the squad. The decision comes after an abuse complaint was filed against Morales by his ex-partner. Finally, as the transfer window heats up, analysts are predicting which clubs the summer's biggest free agents will sign for in the coming weeks.
