Manaka Matsukubo

Manaka Matsukubo (松窪 真心, Matsukubo Manaka, born July 28, 2004) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played for Japan women's national under-20 football team and was an integral part of the team that made the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final.[1] She made history in the NWSL when she became the youngest player to start in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest player to score in the Challenge Cup.

Manaka Matsukubo
松窪 真心
Manaka Matsukubo
Matsukubo with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Full name Manaka Matsukubo
Date of birth (2004-07-28) 28 July 2004
Place of birth Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Height 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 North Carolina Courage
Number 34
Youth career
2017–2022 JFA Academy Fukushima
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 JFA Academy Fukushima 46 (30)
2023– Mynavi Sendai 12 (4)
2023– → North Carolina Courage (loan) 6 (1)
International career‡
2019 Japan U16
2022 Japan U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:33, 16 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:33, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Mynavi Sendai

Matsukubo made her professional debut for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season.[2] She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.[3]

North Carolina Courage, 2023–present

On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024.[2] She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023.[1] With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest to score.[3] In the Challenge Cup final against Racing Louisville, she was named the MVP after scoring on a chip volley off a pass from Tess Boade in the 54th minute, lifting the Courage to the final score of 2–0.[4][5][6]

Matsukubo scored her first regular-season goal the next week in a 2–1 loss to the Orlando Pride.[7] In the Courage's last regular-season game, Matsukubo had an assist—a cross converted by Tyler Lussi—in the Courage's 1–0 win against the Washington Spirit that clinched their spot in the playoffs.[8]

International career

Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022.[9]

References
  1. Cascone, Arianna (10 October 2023). "How 19-year-old Manaka Matsukubo is already lighting up the NWSL – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  2. "Courage acquire Japanese midfielder Manaka Matsukubo". North Carolina Courage. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. Needelman, Josh (9 September 2023). "NWSL Challenge Cup MVP: Manaka Matsukubo makes history". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. "Courage defend NWSL Challenge Cup with win over Racing Louisville". CBC.ca. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. "NC Courage win 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup as Kerolin, Matsukubo put on a show". Pro Soccer Wire. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. Cattry, Pardeep (10 September 2023). "Manaka Matsukubo a 'star in the making' for North Carolina Courage after NWSL Challenge Cup win". CBS Sports. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  7. Rantz, Susie (17 September 2023). "Pride beat Courage 2-1 in NWSL and move one point out of playoff position". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  8. "Recap: Courage grind out road win Sunday, earn home playoff bout". North Carolina Courage. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  9. "U-20 Japan Women's National Team squad - FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ (8/7-28＠Costa Rica)" (in Japanese). Japan Football Association｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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