Yuki Nagasato, the 37-year-old Japanese footballer and Women’s World Cup winner, has announced her retirement after a remarkable 23-year career. The striker, who was part of the Japan team that won the 2011 World Cup, reflected on her decision to retire with a sense of peace, saying she had given “every last drop” in her career.
Nagasato played for clubs in Germany, England, the United States, Australia, and Japan. One of the most notable moments of her career came in 2020 when she joined her brother’s amateur men’s team, Hayabusa Eleven, in a regional league in Japan.
This move was inspired by a desire to send a message about gender equality, drawing influence from Megan Rapinoe’s activism for women’s rights in sports. Nagasato played four matches during her stint, though she did not score any goals.
Throughout her illustrious career, Nagasato earned 132 caps for Japan, scoring 58 goals, making her the country’s second-highest scorer behind Homare Sawa. In addition to her World Cup victory in 2011, she also won an Olympic silver medal in 2012 and the UEFA Champions League with German club Turbine Potsdam in 2010.
Her European journey included stints at Chelsea, Wolfsburg, and Frankfurt before moving to the United States in 2017. Nagasato expressed that her decision to retire was made with a “clear and peaceful mind,” having given her all throughout her career.
