60 articles
Makoto Hasebe (長谷部 誠)
Makoto Hasebe (長谷部 誠), born 1984, Japanese midfielder-defender; 384 Bundesliga games (record Asian appearance holder), Wolfsburg 2009 champion, Eintracht Frankfurt 2014-2024, DFB-Pokal and Europa League winner, 114 Japan caps, retired 2024.
Maya Yoshida (吉田麻也)
Maya Yoshida (吉田麻也), born 1988, is a Japanese center back for LA Galaxy who captained Japan at the 2022 World Cup after eight seasons with Southampton.
Nicholas Guimarães
Nicholas Guimarães (Nicholas Rodriguez Guimarães), born 2006 in Narashino, Chiba, is a Filipino goalkeeper for Machida Zelvia in Japan's J1 League and the Philippines U23 team, twin brother of Gabriel Guimarães, formerly of Ichifuna HS, Juntendo University, and Ichikawa SC.
Ota Yamamoto
Ota Yamamoto (山本 桜大), born 2004 in Hiroshima, Japanese attacking midfielder; Kashiwa Reysol academy product, 10-goal J2 loans at Renofa Yamaguchi and RB Omiya Ardija, signed by RB Leipzig in 2026 on a deal to 2031.
Park Ji-sung (박지성)
Park Ji-sung (박지성), South Korean midfielder born in Seoul; starred at the 2002 World Cup, won two Dutch titles with PSV, four Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League with Manchester United, and retired in 2014.
Park Joo-ho (박주호)
Park Joo-ho (박주호), born 1987, retired South Korean left-footed defender-midfielder; played for Basel, Mainz, Dortmund, Ulsan, Suwon FC; 2014 and 2018 World Cups; later KFA critic and SBS commentator.
Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate (旗手 怜央), born 1997 in Suzuka, Japan, is a Japanese midfielder who starred for Kawasaki Frontale and Celtic (191 games, 33 goals, nine trophies) before joining Burnley in September 2026 for about £6.5 million plus add-ons; he has 11 Japan caps.
Rion Ichihara (市原 吏音)
Rion Ichihara (市原 吏音, born 2005) is a Japanese center back from the Omiya Ardija academy who captained Japan's U-20s to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, won Best Elevens in J3 (2024) and J2 (2025), and joined AZ Alkmaar in 2026.
Ryūnosuke Satō (佐藤 龍之介)
Ryūnosuke Satō (佐藤 龍之介), Japanese attacking midfielder born 2006 in Nishitokyo; FC Tokyo academy product, 2025 Fagiano Okayama loan, AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 MVP, Japan senior debutant, and July 2026 Valencia CF signing, the club's first Japanese player.
Serginho (footballer, born 1995)
Serginho (塞尔吉尼奥), full name Sérgio Antônio Soler de Oliveira Júnior, Brazilian-born attacking midfielder born 1995 in Monte Aprazível; Kashima Antlers 2018 AFC Champions League winner, Changchun Yatai, Beijing Guoan, naturalized Chinese international.
Shinji Kagawa (香川真司)
Shinji Kagawa (香川真司), born 1989 in Kobe, is a Japanese attacking midfielder from Cerezo Osaka who won two Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund and the 2013 Premier League with Manchester United, and earned 92 caps, 30 goals for Japan.
Shinji Okazaki (岡崎慎司)
Shinji Okazaki (岡崎慎司), born 1986, Japanese centre-forward; 2015-16 Premier League winner with Leicester City (19 goals in 137 games), Japan's third-highest scorer (50 in 119 caps), retired 2024, now coaches FC Basara Mainz.
Shinnosuke Fukuda (福田 心之助)
Shinnosuke Fukuda (福田 心之助), born 2000, is a Japanese right back who played for Kyoto Sanga from 2023 (90 J1 apps, 10 goals) and joined Legia Warsaw on loan in September 2026.
Shunsuke Nakamura (中村俊輔)
Shunsuke Nakamura (中村俊輔), born 1978 in Yokohama, Japanese left-footed playmaker; Celtic star 2005-2009 winning three titles, 98 Japan caps, record J1 free-kick scorer, later Japan national team coach.
Shūto Machino (町野修斗)
Shūto Machino (町野修斗), born 1999, is a Japanese striker at Borussia Mönchengladbach; formerly of Shonan Bellmare and Holstein Kiel, whom he helped to their first Bundesliga promotion, and a Japan international at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
Son Heung-min (손흥민)
Son Heung-min (손흥민), born 1992, is a South Korean footballer who won the 2021/22 Premier League Golden Boot and captained Tottenham before joining Los Angeles FC in 2025.
Sun Jihai (孙继海)
Sun Jihai (孙继海), born 1977, Chinese defender; Manchester City's first Asian player (2002–2008, 151 apps), first East Asian to score in the Premier League, 80 China caps, 2002 World Cup, Hall of Fame 2015.
Takefusa Kubo (久保建英)
Takefusa Kubo (Take Kubo, 久保建英), born in 2001, is a Japanese winger for Real Sociedad in LaLiga and the Japan national team, once of Barcelona's La Masia academy and Real Madrid.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (冨安健洋)
Takehiro Tomiyasu (冨安健洋), born 1998 in Fukuoka, is a versatile two-footed Japanese defender (centre-back or full-back) for Crystal Palace and Japan; ex-Avispa Fukuoka, Sint-Truiden, Bologna, Arsenal, and Ajax, with 46 Japan caps and two World Cups.
Takuma Asano (浅野拓磨)
Takuma Asano (浅野拓磨) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward, best known for scoring the winning goal in Japan's 2-1 win over Germany at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Takumi Minamino (南野拓実)
Takumi Minamino (南野拓実), born 1995 in Izumisano, is a Japanese attacking midfielder for AS Monaco and Japan; formerly Cerezo Osaka, Red Bull Salzburg, and Liverpool (2020 Premier League winner); 65 caps; ACL injury ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.
Tyias Browning
Tyias Browning (Jiang Guangtai, 蒋光太), English-born centre back from Liverpool, ex-Everton academy player; naturalised Chinese citizen 2019 via Guangdong-born grandfather; won CSL titles with Guangzhou (2019) and Shanghai Port (2023-2025); China international.
Wataru Endō (遠藤航)
Wataru Endō (遠藤航), born 1993, Japanese defensive midfielder and Japan captain; clubs Shonan Bellmare, Urawa Reds, Sint-Truiden, VfB Stuttgart, Liverpool FC; Carabao Cup 2024, Premier League 2025; retired internationally June 2026.
Wei Xiangxin
Wei Xiangxin (魏祥鑫), born 2008 in Meizhou, Guangdong, is a Chinese forward who starred for Meizhou Hakka, became the CSL's second-youngest scorer, and joined AJ Auxerre in 2026 on a five-year deal, number 49.
Wu Lei (武磊)
Wu Lei (武磊), born 1991, is a Chinese forward for Shanghai Port and China. All-time CSL top scorer (151 goals), Espanyol 2019–2022, first Chinese scorer in La Liga and UEFA group stage.
Yang Min-hyeok (양민혁)
Yang Min-hyeok (양민혁) is a South Korean footballer who rose to prominence at Gangwon FC before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2025, and now plays for KVC Westerlo.
Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁)
Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁), born 1980, Japanese central midfielder; Japan's most capped player with 152 caps and 15 goals; Gamba Osaka legend, 2008 AFC Champions League and 2014 treble winner; retired 2023, now Gamba coach.
Yoon Do-young (윤도영)
Yoon Do-young (윤도영), born 2006, is a South Korean left-footed winger at Brighton & Hove Albion, signed from Daejeon Hana Citizen in 2025 and loaned to Excelsior, Dordrecht, and 1. FC Magdeburg.
Yoshinori Muto (武藤嘉紀)
Yoshinori Muto (武藤嘉紀), Japanese forward born 1992 in Setagaya, Tokyo. FC Tokyo, Mainz 05, Newcastle United (first Japanese player there), Eibar, Vissel Kobe; J1 Player of the Year 2024, 29 Japan caps.
Zhang Yuning (footballer, born 1997)
Zhang Yuning, born 1997, is a Chinese footballer and striker who plays for Beijing Guoan after four seasons in Europe, and captains China's national team.