Even Japanese fans are telling him to stop... 'Almost 60' Miura extends contract instead of retiring → '60-year-old J-League player' emerges

*This content was translated by AI.

A '60-year-old J-League player' appears to be on the verge of being born. Japanese football legend Kazuyoshi Miura (59) is set to continue playing on the pitch.

On the 1st (Korean time), Japanese sports outlet Sports Nichi Anex reported, "Fukushima United of the J3 League (third division) is expected to extend Miura's contract for the 2026–2027 autumn-spring season, which kicks off in August."

According to the report, Fukushima CEO Atsushi Koyama said, "Miura will remain with our team next season as well."

Miura was loaned from J2 League's Yokohama FC to Fukushima in January this year. It is known that Fukushima will extend Miura's loan period until May next year, when the 2026–2027 season concludes. The J League has traditionally held its season in a "spring-autumn" format, starting in spring and ending in autumn, but from this year onward, it will switch to an "autumn-spring" format. Consequently, the 2026–2027 season will begin in autumn and conclude in the spring of next year.

If Miura's loan period is extended, he plans to continue his career as an active player even at age 60. The media stated, "Miura will turn 60 in February next year. If that happens, a '60-year-old J-League player' will be born."

CEO Koyama expressed his expectation for Miura's contract extension, saying, "It will be a festival season that happens only once. It will surely attract global attention."

Miura is hailed as a Japanese football legend. He scored 55 goals in 89 international matches and has been an active professional player for 40 years since making his professional debut at Santos in Brazil in 1986. He has played not only in Japan but also in several other countries, including Brazil, Croatia, Italy, and Portugal. Although retirement talks arise every year, Miura continues to choose a playing career.

However, many are casting negative glances at Miura, arguing that he is continuing his playing career due to personal ambition despite being in a physical condition where he cannot perform well. Even Japanese football fans reacted to the news with sarcasm, saying, "Please stop already," and "Just take him to the World Cup. That way, Miura would choose to retire."

One fan raised their voice, saying, "When Miura gets the ball, no one approaches him, and Miura walks every time. Who would enjoy watching that?"

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*This content was translated by AI.