Japan national team defender Yuto Nagatomo has made history as the first Asian footballer to play in five World Cups.
According to Oxu.Az, he achieved this milestone during the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, appearing in a match against Sweden.
The experienced player entered the game as a substitute in the 75th minute, with the score at 1-1.
Previously, Mexicans Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, and Rafael Marquez, Germans Lothar Matthaus and Manuel Neuer, and Croatian Luka Modric had all played in five different World Cups. The record for six appearances belongs to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi.
Now 39, Nagatomo won the Asian Cup with Japan in 2011. With 146 caps, he is second only to retired Yasuhito Endo (152 caps) in Japan's all-time appearances list.
The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will conclude on July 19.
