Takefusa Kubo
久保 建英
#11 · Midfielder · age 24
Star attacking midfielder; squad's creative engine
93
WC26 rating
- Recent form
- 66
- Career peak
- 97
- League level
- 90
- Competition pedigree
- 98
- International pedigree
- 83
- Longevity
- 69
Independent rating — league strength (Opta-anchored) × competition tier × position-normalized output. Not affiliated with EA or FIFA.
Career by season
Source: transfermarkt · fetched 2026-05-29
Kubo is the player Group F opponents will plan around. With Mitoma’s tournament participation uncertain, the creative load on Kubo is heavier than at any previous tournament — and Moriyasu’s tactical question is whether to play him wide right (his Real Sociedad position) or as a central No. 10 to maximize touches.
Against the Netherlands, his matchup with Hato (or Aké) at left-back will be a defining sub-plot. Against Sweden, he will likely be doubled by Lindelöf shifting wide. His tournament ceiling — and Japan’s — track each other closely.
Strengths
- Inside-out dribbling from the right at pace
- Left-footed shooting from the right half-space
- Press resistance under pressure
Recent form
Real Sociedad's primary creative outlet through 2025-26 La Liga campaign.
Holds the unusual distinction of being the only Japanese player to have been a Barcelona academy member — the FIFA sanction that sent him home reshaped Japanese football's relationship with European academies.