After navigating a challenging stretch of his career, Takumi Minamino is looking to fulfill his promise as one of the most talented Japanese players of his generation by helping the Samurai Blue achieve their best-ever result at the World Cup.
The attacker made a name for himself on the world soccer scene over the past four years, winning a transfer to Liverpool while establishing himself as his nation's focal point in attack.
Handed the No. 10 shirt for his World Cup debut in Qatar, the 27-year-old has vowed to eclipse his country's best record to date of a place in the last 16, as he starts to find his form at the right time with his new French club Monaco.