TOKYO: Women’s World Cup winner Yuki Nagasato, who made history with a brief spell playing for a men’s team, said she had given “every last drop” as the Japanese striker announced her retirement from football.

The 37-year-old, part of the Japan team that lifted the World Cup in 2011, brought the curtain down on a 23-year career that saw her play in Germany, England, the United States, Australia and her home country.

That included a loan stint in 2020 with her brother’s team Hayabusa Eleven, an amateur men’s side playing in a regional league in Japan.

Nagasato said at the time the move was inspired by former US national team star Megan Rapinoe’s fight for equality, explaining that she “wanted to send a message to society”.

Nagasato played four games for the team, scoring no goals.

She said on social media that she was retiring with “a clear and peaceful mind”.

“I have decided to close this chapter of my career,” she wrote. “I have given it my all and the final flame burned out — every last drop.”

Nagasato made 132 appearances for Japan, scoring 58 goals to become her country’s second-highest goalscorer behind Homare Sawa.

She won an Olympic silver medal with Japan in 2012 and the Champions League with German side Turbine Potsdam in 2010.

She also played in Europe for Chelsea, Wolfsburg and Frankfurt, before moving to the US in 2017.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Revised solar policy
15 Mar, 2025

Revised solar policy

THE decision to significantly revise down buyback prices at which power distribution companies purchase electricity...
Toxic prejudice
15 Mar, 2025

Toxic prejudice

WITH far-right movements on the march across the world, it is no surprise that anti-Muslim bias is witnessing high...
Children in jails
15 Mar, 2025

Children in jails

PAKISTAN’S children in prison have often been treated like adult criminals. The Sindh government’s programme to...
Cohesive response
Updated 14 Mar, 2025

Cohesive response

Solely militarised response has failed to deliver, counterterrorism efforts must be complemented by political outreach in Balochistan.
Agriculture tax
14 Mar, 2025

Agriculture tax

THE changes in the provincial agriculture income tax laws aimed at aligning their rates with the federal corporate...
Closing the gap
14 Mar, 2025

Closing the gap

PAKISTAN continues to struggle with gender inequality in its labour market. A new report by the ILO shows just how...