50-year-old Japanese man to begin his 32nd season in professional soccer

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How old is too old for a professional soccer player? Maybe playing at the age of 40 would be impossible for most, but not for Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura, who is set to play into his 50's as he enters his 32nd professional season.

Miura, who was born on February 26, 1967, only eight days younger than Italian legend Roberto Baggio, who retired at the age of 37 in 2004, has recently signed a one-year contract with Yokohama FC in the second tier Japanese league.

Kazuyoshi Miura has scored two goals in 20 league appearances last season. /CFP Photo

Miura, who retired from international football 17 years ago after scoring 55 goals in 89 caps for Japan, is the oldest scorer in the history of the Japanese league after netting at the age of 49 last season.

“I hope to keep fighting with all my might together with people involved with the club, my teammates and supporters who have always given me support,” said Miura.

He started his career in Brazil with Santos, making his professional debut in 1986, and had brief spells with Italian side Genoa and Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in the 1990s. Though he was not the most successful Japanese player in Europe, he is widely considered a legend who challenged himself as an Asian pioneer in Italy’s Serie A, one of the world’s best and most difficult football leagues in the 1994-1995 season.

Retired Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo plays in a friendly match in Chongqing, southwest China on September 24, 2016. /CFP Photo

The forward joined Yokohama in 2005 at the age of 38. He was the oldest player in the Japanese top flight before his move from Vissel Kobe.

Miura is not the only player to continue his career beyond 40, with Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo retiring at 43, Italian defender Paolo Maldini at 41, Argentine defender Javier Zanetti at 40, Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs at 40 and Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero at 40. Francesco Totti, the captain of Serie A side Roma, is still playing after turning 40 last September and has scored in 23 consecutive seasons.

Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero celebrates after scoring a goal for Sydney FC on January 19, 2013 at the age of 38. /CFP Photo

Chinese defender Sun Jihai plays in his last professional season in 2016. /CFP Photo

Sun Jihai, a former defender at Manchester City in the Premier League, announced his retirement last month at the age of 39, and became the oldest Chinese footballer to retire.