1. Maya Yoshida was a member of the side's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2014,2018 and 2022, and the AFC Asian Cup in 2011,2015 and 2019, winning the latter tournament in 2011 and finishing as runner-up in 2019.
35 Facts About Maya Yoshida
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Maya Yoshida was additionally part of Japan's Olympic football team at the 2008,2012 and 2020 games.
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At the start of the 2009 season, Maya Yoshida switched number shirt to four.
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Since returning to the first team from injury, Maya Yoshida regained his first team place for the club's remaining matches of the 2009 season.
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Maya Yoshida soon had a first team run, starting a lot of matches by the end of 2018.
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On 31 January 2020, Maya Yoshida joined Serie A side Sampdoria on loan until the end of the season.
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Maya Yoshida scored his first goal for the Blucerchiati on 24 January 2021 against Parma.
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On 5 July 2022, Maya Yoshida joined German side Schalke 04 on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract with the Bundesliga club, with an option for another year.
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Maya Yoshida helped the club keep four clean sheets between 29 January 2023 and 19 February 2023.
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On 3 August 2023, Maya Yoshida joined Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy on a free transfer, signing a contract through the end of the 2024 season.
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Ahead of the 2024 season, it was announced that Maya Yoshida was named as LA Galaxy's new captain following the departure of Hernandez.
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Maya Yoshida earned a call-up for Japan's U-23 team in April 2008 for the first time following good performance at Nagoya Grampus.
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Four years later, Maya Yoshida was called up to the Japan U-23 team for the second time ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
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In June 2021, Maya Yoshida was named in the squad for his third Olympic tournament, this time on home soil, as one of three available over-age players.
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In December 2009, Maya Yoshida was called up to the senior national team for the first time.
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Maya Yoshida made his full international debut for Japan on 6 January 2010 in a 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen.
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In December 2010, Maya Yoshida was called up to the Japan's squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.
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Between 7 June 2011 and 2 September 2011, Maya Yoshida kept three consecutive three cleans; including st North Korea, which he scored the only goal of the game.
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Maya Yoshida kept an additional three more clean sheets between 7 October 2011 and 11 November 2011.
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Two days later, Maya Yoshida was called up to the Samurai Blue for the 2013 Confederations Cup squad.
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In May 2014, Maya Yoshida was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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In December 2014, Maya Yoshida was selected as a member of the Japanese team for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.
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Maya Yoshida kept four more clean sheets for Japan in the World Cup qualifying round between 12 November 2015 and 29 March 2016.
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On 31 May 2018, Maya Yoshida was selected in the 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
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In December 2018, Maya Yoshida was one of 23 Japanese players selected for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
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Maya Yoshida captained the remaining matches of 2019 with clean sheets.
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On 14 November 2019, Maya Yoshida played his 100th match for Japan against Kyrgyzstan.
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Maya Yoshida started four matches as captain by the end of the year and helped Japan keep three consecutive clean sheets before losing to Mexico on 17 November 2020.
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At the beginning of 2021, Maya Yoshida continued to retain his captaincy and helped the Samurai Blue kept another three consecutive clean sheets against South Korea, Mongolia and Myanmar in the FIFA World Cup qualification.
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Maya Yoshida revealed on his blog on 26 September 2012 that he was married.
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In November 2007, Maya Yoshida affiliated himself with FIFA Players' Agent Tetsuro Kiyooka, in hopes of moving to Europe.
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In May 2018, Maya Yoshida published his first book titled Unbeatable Mind.
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On 9 August 2013, it was announced that Maya Yoshida would be on the front cover of the Japanese Edition of FIFA 14.
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In May 2020, Maya Yoshida used his own money to buy 10,000 masks from Japan and deliver them to hospitals in Genoa.
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On 20 June 2022, Maya Yoshida was named the president of Japan Professional Soccer Players Association, succeeding Hideto Takahashi.