Japan against Japan. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Japan · 1992–2026 · ST
On 26 July 2026, aged 59, Kazu scored in the 52nd minute of Fukushima United's 7-0 Emperor's Cup win over Iwaki Furukawa, his first competitive goal in almost four years. He won the 1992 Asian Cup on home soil as the tournament's best player, was Asian Footballer of the Year in 1993, took the first J.League MVP award that year with Verdy Kawasaki, and is into a 42nd season across Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. Career record: 89 caps and 55 goals for Japan; club career at Tokyo Verdy, Vissel Kobe, Yokohama.
Japan · 2016–23 · CB
Hajime Moriyasu sent him on at half-time on 23 November 2022, Japan a goal down to Germany, rebuilt the back line as a five around him, and won 2-1 on the day of Tomiyasu's World Cup debut. Runner-up with Japan at the 2019 Asian Cup, he won the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship with a back line that conceded nothing in six matches and took the 2023 Community Shield during four years at Arsenal. Career record: 23 caps for Japan; club career at Avispa Fukuoka, Bologna F.C. 1909, Arsenal.
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 86.
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