Minato Yoshida: Kashima's Mbappé has fulfilled almost all his goals this year

Talents Calendar 

In April, Kashima Antlers’ Minato Yoshida reached a historical milestone. The striker hoped for one more but missed out. Still, there is significant hope in Japan that the 17-year-old could become the long-hoped-for top striker. “Kashima’s jewel,” the press wrote. Another headline was “Kashima’s Mbappé.” The U17 World Cup was another career highlight.

The occasion was matchday 13 of the J1 League. Kashima, who would later win the title, travelled to visit bottom of the table Yokohama FC—an easy task for the visitors. Antlers won the match 3-0. There would be no upset that day. But because of Yoshida, the game would be entered in the history books after all. At the age of 16 years, nine months, and 14 days, the talent became the youngest player in the history of the Antlers. He only played for one minute, not enough to score that day. But the forward underlined his ambitions after the game, even if it was perhaps a bit too ambitious.

“My next goal is to break the record for the youngest goalscorer in club history,” Yoshida said after the game. He missed out on that record. Yoshida simply didn’t feature for the rest of the season. Homare Tokuda, who Yoshida replaced as the youngest player in history, would keep the record as the youngest goalscorer in club history. Tokuda was 17 years, three months, and 25 days old when he scored. Yoshida is now too old to break that record.

Yoshidas chance: “I want to play a significant role at Antlers”

Despite missing out on that record, Yoshida’s performances over the last few months have still been outstanding. It was a year of highlights for Yoshida. He scored in his debut for the U17, although Japan did lose that game against Spain 5-1. Then he scored three more goals at the AFC U17 Asian Cup and another in the 1-1 draw against France’s youth national team.

In November, another highlight followed: Yoshida scored in the round of 16 at the U17 World Cup against South Africa (3-0). The exit followed in the quarterfinals against eventual finalists Austria. Not to forget the brief appearance already mentioned for Antlers’ senior team. The teenager earned that opportunity in a training skirmish the previous day. Kashima had several injuries, opening the door for him to make the squad. “If he didn’t deliver in practice, I wouldn’t have nominated him to the squad,” Antlers coach Toru Oniki said.

Although he hasn’t scored yet for the first team, Yoshida has shown his goalscoring abilities elsewhere. That’s surprising given the fact that he started his football career as a midfielder. Only in middle school (ninth grade) did he start playing as a striker. Playing for FC Tama’s U15, he led the club as the top goalscorer to the title. He won the Golden Boot twice while playing for Antlers’ U18.  

“He is quick, good in the air, and can score from all sorts of situations,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Takako Maruga said about Yoshida. “I think my passing and dribbling have improved significantly over the last year,” Yoshida said about himself ahead of the U17 World Cup. “My shot has become more powerful, and I hit the target more often.” There is no doubt that he has confidence. “I want to play a significant role at Antlers.” Kashima’s no.1 star striker, Yuma Suzuki, agrees. “One day I will be replaced by him,” Suzuki said. “But not now.”