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Minato Yoshida reached a historic milestone with the Kashima Antlers in April of this year. Another one, which the goalscorer had hoped for, was denied him. Nevertheless, there is great hope in Japanese football that the 17-year-old will become a new top striker. The press dubbed him “Kashima’s Jewel,” or “Kashima’s Mbappé.” The U17 World Cup just gave him a new career highlight.
It was the 13th matchday of the Japanese league. The eventual champions from Kashima were visiting Yokohama FC, who were bottom of the table at the time – a clear affair. The Antlers won 3-0. Unspectacular. The match nevertheless received an entry in the history books of the nine-time J-League champion thanks to Yoshida. At the age of 16 years, nine months and 14 days, the offensive talent became the Antlers’ youngest player in a competitive game. Operating time: one minute. A goal was out of the question on that Tuesday in April. But after the game, Yoshida also made a real declaration of war in this regard. However, it is now clear that that was a bit too ambitious.
“Next, I want to tackle the record for the youngest goalscorer,” Yoshida said at the time – a dream that would not come true. Yoshida didn’t get another opportunity to show himself in the Antlers’ professional and championship team for the rest of the season. Homare Tokuda, whom Yoshida ousted as the youngest player in club history in April, remains at the top as youngest goalscorer, having scored for the club in 2024 at the age of 17 years, three months and 25 days. Yoshida is now too old for this record.
Yoshida’s chance: “I want to play a leading role in the Antlers”
This unfulfilled wish does not diminish Yoshida’s achievements over the last twelve months. It was a year of highlights for the youngster. On his debut for the U17 national team, he scored early for the Japanese selection, although the game against Spain – a friendly match – was clearly lost 1:5. This was followed by three more goals in the AFC U17 Asian Cup and another in the 1-1 friendly draw against France’s juniors.
The highlight for the time being in November: Yoshida’s goal at the U17 World Cup in the round of 16 against South Africa (3-0). It only ended in the quarter-finals against finalist Austria. And then there was the opportunity in the spring in the Antlers professional team, which only opened up for Yoshida the day before in a training game. Kashima had to do without a number of players due to injuries, but Yoshida was allowed to show off and was convincing. “If he hadn’t delivered, I wouldn’t have taken him with me either,” emphasized Antlers coach Toru Oniki afterwards, saying that it wasn’t just the injury woes that helped Yoshida get his first nomination for a matchday squad.
Even if he didn’t get the first goal he had hoped for after his professional debut, Yoshida was able to showcase his finishing skills elsewhere. The talent from Kanagawa started playing football as a midfielder. It wasn’t until his third year of middle school (in Germany that would be ninth grade) that Yoshida’s true calling on the field became apparent. He promptly led FC Tama’s U15s as top scorer to win the youth championship. In the U18, with the Antlers, he won the top scorer’s crown several times.
“He is fast, strong in the air and has an incredible range of goalscoring skills,” says Takako Maruga from Transfermarkt in Japan about the promising young player for the Japanese champions. The player recently said before his World Cup appearance: “I think my passing and my dribbling have improved since last year. My shooting power and my aiming ability have also improved.” Yoshida already has the necessary self-confidence. He emphasized: “I want to play a leading role in the Antlers.” And Kashima’s current regular striker Yuma Suzuki (29) also predicted: “One day I will be replaced by him. But it’s not that far yet.”
Every day from December 1st to 24th, Transfermarkt will present a talent from the 2008 or 2009 vintage from a different country. Sponsors, data scouts and users act as experts and report interesting facts about 24 young players in our talent calendar who you should keep a close eye on in the future. For example with the TM Watchlist.