Yokohama FC striker Kazuyoshi Miura was formally recognised on Thursday as the oldest player to have scored in a competitive football league by Guinness World Records.
The record-setting goal came on March 12, 2017, when the former Japan international known as ‘King Kazu’ hammered home with his left foot against J2 League opponents Thespa Kusatsu Gunma at 50 years and 14 days of age.
Miura, whose globetrotting professional career began in 1986 with Brazil’s Santos, was one of the J.League’s early stars. His 27 years in the J.League have been interspersed with stints in Italy, Croatia, and Australia.
“It’s an honour, but […] I want to keep playing in order to break this record,” Miura said at the J.League’s annual kickoff conference according to Nikkan Sports. “My goal is to focus on scoring in the match in front of me. It would be great if I could set a new record.”
Miura, who broke the record previously set by former England international Stanley Matthews in 1965, will turn 51 on February 26.