33·Legends
‹ Japan's 33
Kaoru Mitoma
Photo: AFC Bournemouth · CC BY 3.0 · source
Japan · 2018–26

Kaoru Mitoma

Icon LM Right-footed dribbler
Rating
86
Life
1997
Clubs
University of Tsukuba Football Club, Kawasaki Frontale, Brighton & Hove Albion
#6
Editorial rank of 33 for Japan
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The people's rank, live from duel votes

With the ball apparently gone over the byline in Doha on 2 December 2022, Mitoma stretched and hooked it back a fraction inside, and Ao Tanaka turned in the goal that beat Spain 2-1. He won the J1 League and Emperor's Cup double with Kawasaki Frontale in 2020, was Japanese footballer of the year in 2021, and his solo goal against Chelsea was voted the Premier League's goal of the season in 2024-25. Career record: club career at University of Tsukuba Football Club, Kawasaki Frontale, Brighton & Hove Albion.

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Career record

2016–2019University of Tsukuba Football Club
2020–2021Kawasaki Frontale
2021–todayBrighton & Hove Albion
2021–2022Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Shared the era

Japan legends whose careers overlapped Mitoma's

The world's great LMs

Around Mitoma in the almanac

One rank above: Shunsuke Nakamura at #5.

One rank below: Kazuyoshi Miura at #7.

Japan's editorial top five: Hidetoshi Nakata · Shinji Kagawa · Keisuke Honda · Makoto Hasebe · Shunsuke Nakamura.