World's oldest professional footballer Kazuyoshi Miura makes debut for 15th club, aged 56

Kazuyoshi Miura showed that age is just a number on Sunday evening, when he made his official debut for the 15th club of his 36-year playing career.

The 56-year-old former Japan international, who made his professional debut in 1986, is the world's oldest active footballer.

In fact, Miura is the last player left from the game FIFA 96, with his CV featuring spells at Dinamo Zagreb, Vissel Kobe, Yokohama FC and Sydney on loan.

And at the weekend, the experienced striker made his debut for Portuguese second-tier side Oliveirense, coming on as a 89th substitute in their 4-1 win over Academico Viseu.

As a result of his brief cameo at the Estadio do Fontelo, Miura became the oldest footballer to play in Portuguese football at 56 years, one month and 24 days.

Back in February, he joined Oliveirense from parent club Yokohama FC, who are owned by the Onodera Group – a company that own a 52.5 percent stake in the second division side.

Oliveirense currently sit in 10th place in LigaPro with nine wins from 29 games.

Speaking after his arrival earlier this year, Miura told fans: "Even though this is a new place for me, I'll work hard to show everyone the kind of play I'm known for.”

On his 50th birthday in February 2017, Miura took to the field for Yokohama in their J. League Division 2 clash against Matsumoto Yamaga.

As a result, he became the oldest player to play a professional game of football, breaking Stanley Matthews' previous record in the process.

“I think I will [always] be involved in football in one way or another," he told FIFA in 2021. "I don't know how long I'll be playing. It could be tomorrow, it could be two or three years from now.”

He added: "When I signed my first professional contract in Brazil at the age of 18, I never imagined that I would play until this age. I have been able to do this because I have put all my energy into football every single year."

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