Yuto Nagatomo, 39, of Japan, is as unstoppable as ever as he gets ready for his fifth World Cup—an Asian record—so it was never conceivable that he would mellow with age. The left-back's unwavering zeal could be Japan's secret weapon in the US, Canada, and Mexico, even if he may not be able to get around the pitch as quickly as he could during his Inter Milan glory days. As the team's main motivator, Nagatomo leads jogs around the training field, inspires his teammates, and imparts knowledge gained from 144 appearances for his nation.
He says his "World Cup nose" can help Japan advance further in the competition than ever before, and he is willing to help in any way he can.Japan's 2010 World Cup journey to the round of 16 in South Africa was Nagatomo's debut, and six months later he was signed by Inter.
Before rejoining FC Tokyo in 2021, he played for the Italian powerhouses for seven seasons, making over 200 games. He also had stints with Galatasaray and Marseille.
In 2022, he became the first outfield player from Japan to participate in four World Cups in Qatar, where he was a member of a squad that shocked Germany and Spain before succumbing to Croatia on penalties in the round of sixteen.
A video of Nagatomo yelling "Bravo!" in a TV interview following the victory over Germany, with his hair painted flame red, went viral worldwide."He is going to his fifth World Cup so he knows all about the successes and shortcomings of those previous four tournaments," Moriyasu added.The pressure at a World Cup is greater than you can imagine, but I want the players to remain composed and express themselves."Players with less expertise may find it challenging to maintain mental control, thus his play and communication abilities can have an impact.
Five-star
Despite being Japan's top left back for over ten years, Nagatomo has only played for his country twice since the last World Cup.Although he still plays regularly for Tokyo, he was sidelined for two months earlier this year due to a hamstring issue.
Moriyasu maintains that Nagatomo is more than simply a glorified cheerleader, despite the fact that he is unlikely to receive any playing time at the World Cup.The coach remarked, "He has demonstrated to me his ability to play with great intensity and to be a member of the team."I observed that he met the requirements to play at a World Cup in every aspect of his game when I watched his most recent game.
By being selected for his fifth World Cup, Nagatomo has surpassed players like Hong Myung-bo of South Korea and Sami al-Jaber of Saudi Arabia, setting a new Asian record.

He responded to the squad announcement in his usual emotional way, crying as soon as the accomplishment dawned on him.
on contrast to his 2010 World Cup debut, when just four players were located abroad, Nagatomo is the only outfield player on the team who participates in the home J. League.
Nagatomo concurs "from the bottom of my heart" with Moriyasu that Japan is prepared to win the World Cup due to their increased depth.
It won't be because Nagatomo didn't try if they don't leave a lasting impact at the competition."I want to share all I've learned with the team so we can win the championship," he declared."I played with a very passionate spirit last time but this time I have an even fiercer spirit."I hope everyone is prepared for an incredible experience.