'Why did he cry so bitterly in front of Mitoma's name?' 40-year-old Nagatomo Yuto, who will make his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, moves Japan to tears: "Thinking of eliminated juniors..."

*This content was translated by AI.

The 'Veteran' Nagatomo Yuto (40, FC Tokyo), who will step onto the World Cup finals stage for the fifth consecutive time, shed hot tears at the moment the final roster was announced.

Japanese outlet 'Soccer Daily' reported on the 16th that "upon the announcement of the Japanese national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Nagatomo was seen shedding tears after learning of his juniors' elimination."

FC Tokyo released a video on the 15th showing Nagatomo watching the press conference. Coach Hajime Moriyasu called out the players' names. Nagatomo, the oldest field player, was the first to have his name called. He stared at the screen with a calm expression.

The media reported, "The atmosphere changed when the names of midfielders and forwards were announced. The Japanese national team typically calls players in order of age. When Coach Moriyasu called out 27-year-old Ao Tanaka, Nagatomo could no longer contain his emotions and covered his eyes with his left hand. This was because he immediately sensed the elimination of Minamino Takumi (Monaco), who is older than that age group, and 28-year-old Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)."

It further added, "Nagatomo could not look at the screen and kept wiping away tears with his head bowed. These tears were released because he understands the desperation and frustration of his juniors who have fought alongside him at the forefront of the national team."

Japanese fans are resonating with Nagatomo's tears. On social media (SNS), fans reacted with comments such as, "He cried at the moment Mitoma's name was skipped," "He cried because he understands his teammates' hearts toward the World Cup," and "To cry when Minamino and Mitoma were not called out is truly manly."

After the roster announcement, Nagatomo bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude. He vowed, "I will fight with strong conviction and determination toward victory." He also showed his affection for his club team. Nagatomo said, "If it weren't for the support from FC Tokyo and its fans, I would not have been selected. I want to win the championship with the fans and go to the World Cup."

The media reported that Nagatomo's remarks reflected his resolve to carry the burden of his eliminated teammates as he runs.

Nagatomo had considered retiring from the national team after the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but Coach Moriyasu trusted Nagatomo's experience and skills, re-selecting him afterward. He aims to make his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, following the 2010 South Africa, 2014 Brazil, 2018 Russia, and 2022 Qatar World Cups, with the upcoming 2026 North American World Cup. He has already appeared in a remarkable 142 A-match games.

Nagatomo played in several European leagues during his prime, including Inter Milan, Galatasaray, and Marseille. After finishing his European career in 2022, he returned to his home club FC Tokyo and continues to show sharp performances even at the age of 40.

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*This content was translated by AI.