60 articles
Ahn Jung-hwan (안정환)
Ahn Jung-hwan (안정환), born 1976, South Korean forward; scored the 2002 World Cup golden goal against Italy and 3 World Cup goals in 71 caps; first Korean in Serie A with Perugia; later a broadcaster.
Alex Yang
Alex Yang (Alex Xi Yang, 杨希, born 2005 in Barcelona) is a Chinese right-back for Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League and China; Espanyol youth product, 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup runner-up.
Ayase Ueda (上田綺世)
Ayase Ueda (上田綺世), Japanese centre forward born 1998; Kashima Antlers, Cercle Brugge, Feyenoord (2025/26 Eredivisie top scorer, 25 goals), LOSC Lille from 2026; Japan 43 caps, 18 goals, 2022 World Cup squad.
Cha Bum-kun (차범근)
Cha Bum-kun (차범근), born 1953, South Korean forward and pioneer in the Bundesliga; 98 goals in 308 matches for Darmstadt, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bayer Leverkusen; two UEFA Cups; later South Korea coach at the 1998 World Cup.
Cho Gue-sung (조규성)
Cho Gue-sung (조규성), born 1998, South Korean striker for FC Midtjylland and Korea Republic; 2022 K League top scorer, scored the first Korean World Cup brace against Ghana in Qatar.
Daichi Kamada (鎌田大地)
Daichi Kamada (鎌田大地), born 1996, is a Japanese attacking midfielder for Crystal Palace and Japan, formerly of Sagan Tosu, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Lazio; he scored Japan's 88th-minute equalizer against the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
Daisuke Yokota
Daisuke Yokota (横田 大祐, born 2000 in Tokyo) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a left-footed winger and attacking midfielder for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
Daizen Maeda (前田 大然)
Daizen Maeda (前田 大然), born 1997 in Osaka, is a Japanese forward who was J-League joint top scorer in 2021, won 10 trophies with Celtic (212 apps, 79 goals), and joined Ipswich Town in 2026.
Eiji Kawashima (川島永嗣)
Eiji Kawashima (川島永嗣), born 1983, Japanese goalkeeper; 95 caps for Japan; 2011 AFC Asian Cup winner; World Cup squads 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022; clubs included Kawasaki Frontale, Standard Liège, FC Metz, Jubilo Iwata.
Han Kwang-song (한광성)
Han Kwang-song (한광성, 韓光成), born 1998, North Korean striker; first North Korean to play and score in Serie A (Cagliari 2017), later Perugia, Juventus, Al-Duhail; career ended by UN sanctions, returned 2024.
Henry Heroki Mochizuki
Henry Heroki Mochizuki (望月 ヘンリー海輝), born 2001, is a Japanese right-back for FC Machida Zelvia in J1; 5 Japan caps, 1 goal, 2025 J1 Outstanding Player Award.
Hidetoshi Nakata (中田英寿)
Hidetoshi Nakata (中田英寿), born 1977 in Yamanashi, Japanese attacking midfielder; Serie A star with Perugia, Roma (2001 Scudetto), Parma (2002 Coppa Italia), Bologna, Fiorentina, Bolton; three World Cups; retired 2006; later sake entrepreneur.
Hiroki Sakai (酒井宏樹)
Hiroki Sakai (酒井宏樹), born 1990, is a Japanese right back for Auckland FC whose career spans Kashiwa Reysol, Hannover 96, Marseille (184 matches), Urawa Red Diamonds, and 74 Japan caps.
Hwang Hee-chan (황희찬)
Hwang Hee-chan (황희찬), born 1996, South Korean forward nicknamed 'The Bull' (Hwangso); Pohang academy to Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig and Wolves; 2022 World Cup stoppage-time winner against Portugal; 82 caps, 17 goals; Schalke 04 loan 2026.
Hwang Ui-jo (황의조)
Hwang Ui-jo (황의조), South Korean footballer born 1992 in Seongnam; forward/attacking midfielder for Alanyaspor, formerly Seongnam, Gamba Osaka, Bordeaux, Nottingham Forest; 62 South Korea caps, 2018 Asian Games gold, 2022 World Cup squad.
Junnosuke Suzuki
Junnosuke Suzuki (鈴木 淳之介, born 2003) is a Japanese defender for Danish club F.C. København and Japan, converted from midfielder to center back at Shonan Bellmare in 2024.
Kaoru Mitoma (三笘薫)
Kaoru Mitoma (三笘薫), born 1997, Japanese left winger for Brighton & Hove Albion and Japan; Tsukuba University dribbling thesis, J-League assists-title rookie, 2022 World Cup last 16, hamstring surgery ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.
Kazuyoshi Miura (三浦知良)
Kazuyoshi Miura (三浦知良), "King Kazu", born 1967, Japanese forward, J.League's first MVP (1993), 55 goals in 89 caps for Japan, oldest professional footballer, still playing in 2026 for Fukushima United in his 42nd season.
Keisuke Honda (本田圭佑)
Keisuke Honda (本田圭佑), born 1986, Japanese left-footed attacking midfielder; CSKA Moscow and AC Milan No. 10, 2011 Asian Cup MVP, scored at three World Cups, later Cambodia manager and FC Jurong player.
Keita Kosugi
Keita Kosugi (小杉啓太), born 2006 in Kamakura, is a Japanese left back who went from Shonan Bellmare U-18 to Djurgården, then Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2026; Conference League semifinalist and Japan U-20 international.
Kento Shiogai (塩貝 陸人)
Kento Shiogai (塩貝 健人), born 2005 in Tokyo, is a Japanese striker for VfL Wolfsburg. A former NEC Nijmegen super-sub with 14 goals in 42 games, he joined Wolfsburg in January 2026 and earned his first Japan call-up in March 2026.
Ki Sung-yueng (기성용)
Ki Sung-yueng (기성용), born 1989 in Gwangju, is a South Korean central midfielder for Pohang Steelers, formerly of Celtic, Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle, and FC Seoul, with 110 South Korea caps and captaincy 2015–2018.
Kim Min-jae (김민재) (footballer)
Kim Min-jae (김민재), born 1996 in Tongyeong, is a South Korean centre-back nicknamed "Monster" who won Serie A with Napoli (2023, best defender) and plays for Bayern Munich since a €42M 2023 transfer, a 2022 and 2026 World Cup international.
Kim Min-su (김민수) (footballer, born 2006)
Kim Min-su (김민수, born 2006, Gwangju) is a South Korean left winger who came through Catalan youth football and Girona, starred on loan at FC Andorra, and joined Rangers in August 2026 for about €10m as their first South Korean men's player.
Lee Chung-yong (이청용)
Lee Chung-yong (born 1988) is a South Korean professional footballer, a midfielder for Incheon United, best known for his years in England with Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace.
Lee Dong-gook (이동국)
Lee Dong-gook (이동국), born 1979 in Pohang, is a retired South Korean striker and K League all-time top scorer (228 goals in 548 matches), four-time MVP, Jeonbuk Hyundai legend, and 105-cap Korea international nicknamed the 'Lion King'.
Lee Jae-sung (이재성)
Lee Jae-sung (이재성), born 1992, is a South Korean midfielder for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 since 2021, formerly Jeonbuk and Holstein Kiel; 105 South Korea caps, 15 goals, and World Cups 2018, 2022, 2026.
Lee Kang-in (이강인)
Lee Kang-in (이강인), born 2001 in Incheon, South Korean attacking midfielder; Valencia, Mallorca, PSG (two Champions League titles), Atlético Madrid from July 2026 on a contract to 2031; South Korea international since 2019.
Lee Seung-woo (이승우)
Lee Seung-woo (이승우), born 1998, South Korean winger and former Barcelona La Masia prospect; 2018 World Cup squad member, 2018 Asian Games gold medalist, now at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in K League 1.
Lee Young-pyo (이영표)
Lee Young-pyo (이영표, born 1977) is a South Korean former fullback, 127-cap international, 2002 World Cup semifinalist, PSV, Tottenham, Dortmund, Al-Hilal and Whitecaps player, now a commentator and Gangwon FC CEO.