18 Facts About Riko Ueki

Riko Ueki is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Women's Super League club West Ham United and the Japan national team.

Riko Ueki started playing football in 2011 at the age of 12.

Riko Ueki had stated that her role model growing up was fellow Japanese forward Mana Iwabuchi Riko Ueki joined Tokyo Verdy Beleza youth team in 2012.

Riko Ueki attended Waseda University, one of the most selective and prestigious universities in Japan, majoring in sports science.

Riko Ueki joined Nadeshiko League club Tokyo Verdy Beleza from the youth team in 2015, and was first called up to the senior team in June 2016.

Riko Ueki marked her debut with a goal as a substitute in a League Cup match against Speranza Osaka.

Riko Ueki was part of the squad which won four consecutive Nadeshiko League title from 2016 to 2019.

Riko Ueki made her debut in the opening league match defeat to Manchester City on 1 October 2023.

In 2016, Riko Ueki was selected to the Japan U-17 national team for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

Riko Ueki played in 6 matches and scored 4 goals, and Japan finished as runners-up in the tournament.

In 2018, Riko Ueki was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Riko Ueki played in all 6 matches and scored 5 goals, including a crucial goal in their semi-final victory over England and helped Japan win the title.

On 4 April 2019, Riko Ueki debuted for the senior Japan national team against France.

Later that year, Riko Ueki was named to Japan's squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup; however, she was forced to withdraw due to injury on 31 May Riko Ueki experienced a breakout year with the national team in 2022, as she began to establish herself as a starting striker and finished the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup as Japan's top scorer with five goals, and joint second-highest goalscorer of the tournament as a whole.

On July 31,2023, Riko Ueki scored in Japan's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C Round 3 match against Spain.

On 14 June 2024, Riko Ueki was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Riko Ueki was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.

Riko Ueki was even invited to make a cameo appearance in a television drama adaptation of the manga series Shiyakusho that aired on TV Tokyo from October to December 2019.