Kazuyoshi Miura plays on! 50 year-old Japanese striker signs new contract and says he ‘hopes to continue to grow’

Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura has had his contract extended at the age of 50.

The striker, nicknamed 'King Kazu', will begin the 33^rd season of his record-breaking career, which began at Brazilian club, Santos, in 1986.

“I will always play my heart out and continue to grow (as a player),” he told Kyodo news agency.

Miura capped 89 times for his country and his 139 goals place him sixth in the all-time list of top scorers in the J-League’s top division.

The Japanese international began his lengthy professional career at the age of 15 where he travelled to Brazil alone to win a deal with Pele’s old club, Santos.

His time in Brazil proved a success and from there he was elevated to stardom in 1986, later leaving Santos for Palmeiras in the same year.

The forward made his Japan debut in 1990 and helped lead his nation to its first ever World Cup appearance in 1998 by netting 14 goals in qualifying.

However, he was controversially left out of the final squad for France and retired from international football two years later, having scored 55 goals in 89 appearances.

He was top scorer and MVP in the inaugural Japanese J-League season in 1993, beating Gary Lineker and Zico to both awards.

And last year, he became the oldest player to feature in a professional match when he started in Yokohama’s 1-1 draw against V-Varen Nagasaki. He has since made 200 appearances for the club.