Yasuhito Endō
Japan's most capped player and midfield metronome.
Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁, Endō Yasuhito; born 28 January 1980) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a midfielder. He made his senior international debut in 2002, representing Japan in three FIFA World Cup and three FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments. In the process he earned over 150 caps, scoring 15 goals and becoming the most capped Japanese male player of all time. He is also one of the few players to have made over 1,100 official appearances and holds the record for the highest number of J.League appearances with 672.
- Role
- Central Midfielder
- Affiliation
- Japan National Team (2002–2015)
- First appears
- 2002
- Status
- Retired from international football
- Notable for
- Set-piece specialist, long passing accuracy
- Caps
- Over 150
- Major tournaments
- FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Endō's international career began at the 1999 World Youth Championship, where Japan finished as runner-up, losing to Spain in the final. Since 2002, he was a regular member of the Japan national team, selected for the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cup squads. He was also a member of the 2004 and 2011 Asian Cup winning teams. On 24 June 2010, Endō scored from a free kick against Denmark in a 3–1 win as Japan qualified for the second round of the World Cup. On 12 October 2010, he became the fourth player to earn a 100th full international cap for Japan in a friendly match against South Korea. On 16 October 2012, Endō became Japan's most capped player in a friendly match against Brazil, his 123rd appearance surpassing Masami Ihara's previous record of 122 caps. He was included in Japan's squad for the 2015 Asian Cup and scored the team's opening goal of the tournament in a 4–0 victory against Palestine. In the team's next match, he earned his 150th cap as Japan defeated Iraq 1–0. He played 152 games and scored 15 goals for Japan until 2015.
In Their Own Story
In the 2010 World Cup, Japan faced Denmark needing a win to advance. With the score 1–0, Japan won a free kick about 30 yards from goal. Endō stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner, a strike that sealed a 3–1 victory and sent Japan to the Round of 16. It was a moment that defined his career: a set-piece specialist delivering under the highest pressure.
Reader's Guide
Yasuhito Endō's international career spanned from 2002 to 2015, during which he earned 152 caps and scored 15 goals for Japan. He is the most capped Japanese male player of all time. He played in three FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and three FIFA Confederations Cups. He was a member of Japan's AFC Asian Cup winning teams in 2004 and 2011. Key moments include his free kick goal against Denmark in the 2010 World Cup group stage, becoming the fourth Japanese player to reach 100 caps in 2010, and surpassing Masami Ihara's record of 122 caps in 2012. He earned his 150th cap in a 1–0 win against Iraq in the 2015 Asian Cup. At the club level, Endō played for Gamba Osaka for 20 years, winning the J1 League in 2005 and 2014, the AFC Champions League in 2008, and multiple Emperor's Cups. He was selected as the Asian Footballer of the Year in 2009 and J.League MVP in 2014. He holds the record for most J.League appearances with 672.
Did You Know?
- Endō is the most capped Japanese male player of all time with 152 appearances.
- He scored a famous free kick against Denmark in the 2010 World Cup to help Japan reach the Round of 16.
- He became Japan's most capped player in October 2012, surpassing Masami Ihara's record of 122 caps.
- Endō played in three FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and three FIFA Confederations Cups.
- He was a member of Japan's AFC Asian Cup winning teams in 2004 and 2011.
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