This guy played during Maradona's era... and he's still active!

Do you know who the oldest footballer to ever play a professional match is? It’s the Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura, who yesterday celebrated his 58 birthday.

The popular "Kazu" is playing for Atletico Suzuka Club, a team competing in Japan's fourth division.

Miura is currently on loan at Suzuka from Yokohama, and now he has confirmed that he will remain with the same club. This means he is set to embark on his 41st season as a professional footballer.

Known in Japan as "King Kazu," Miura began his career way back in 1982 with Shizuoka, before making a name for himself in Brazil, playing for clubs like Juventus, Santos, CRB, and Coritiba. He then returned to Japan with Yomiuri and later had stints in Italy with Genoa and in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb in 1999. His career also took him to Australia (Sydney FC) and Portugal (Oliveirense), while he represented several well-known Japanese clubs, including Vissel Kobe, Yokohama FC, and Kawasaki Frontale.

One of the most astonishing facts about Miura’s career is that back in 1995, he captained Japan in a friendly match against Brazil, where he faced legendary players such as Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, and Rivaldo. At that time, Miura was already in his prime footballing years, while those Brazilian stars were just beginning their careers. Incredibly, Miura has outlasted them all, seeing them retire while continuing to play many more matches himself.

Considering that Miura started his career back in 1982, he was active when Italy won the 1982 World Cup by defeating West Germany in the final. He also witnessed the legendary 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where Argentina, led by the legendary and now late Diego Armando Maradona, claimed the world title by defeating the same opponent as Italy had four years earlier.

Truly, a story worthy of the "believe it or not" category!