35 Facts About Takumi Minamino

Takumi Minamino is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Ligue 1 club Monaco and the Japan national team.

Takumi Minamino would watch videos of Ronaldo's feints, and would go outside to practice.

Takumi Minamino was inspired by his older brother Kenta, and their father would put cones down in a car park for them to dribble in and out of at speed.

Takumi Minamino joined Cerezo Osaka youth team at age 12 and progressed through the academy.

Takumi Minamino was placed in 4th place as one of the top scorers in the tournament, scoring nine times.

Takumi Minamino helped the side reach the final of the J Youth Cup.

Takumi Minamino broke into the first team in 2013 and was given the number thirteen shirt ahead of the new season.

Takumi Minamino later scored two more goals in the Emperor's Cup before being eliminated by Urawa Red Diamonds in the quarter-finals, which he scored in the second leg.

Three weeks later on 26 July 2013, Takumi Minamino scored in a friendly match against Manchester United when "he sent a 20-yard piledriver into the top of the net, giving the opposition goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard no chance at all".

Takumi Minamino later scored three more goals later in the 2013 season, including a brace against Urawa Red Diamonds in the last game of the season.

Takumi Minamino then scored two goals in two matches between 4 October 2015 and 17 October 2015 against Rapid Wien and FC Admira Wacker Modling.

Takumi Minamino then helped the side win the league for the second consecutive time in his Red Bull Salzburg career.

Takumi Minamino later scored three more goals, including another brace against Wolfsberger AC on 17 December 2016.

At the beginning of February, Takumi Minamino signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2021.

Takumi Minamino later scored three more league goals for the side, including a brace against Austria Wien on 18 March 2018.

Takumi Minamino later helped Red Bull Salzburg win the league for the fourth consecutive time in his Red Bull Salzburg career.

Takumi Minamino helped the side win the league for the fifth consecutive time in his Red Bull Salzburg career.

Takumi Minamino later scored two goals in two matches between 23 November 2019 and 27 November 2019 against St Polten and Genk.

On 29 August, Takumi Minamino came on as a substitute, replacing Neco Williams, to score his first ever goal for Liverpool at the 73rd minute, and then to score the 4th penalty in the following penalty shoot-out, in the 2020 FA Community Shield against Arsenal.

Takumi Minamino went on to feature ten times for Saints until the end of the season, in the Premier League, scoring twice.

On 22 December 2021, Takumi Minamino scored the last-minute equaliser against Leicester City in the EFL Cup.

Takumi Minamino scored twice at home against Strasbourg on Matchday 2 and provided an assist for his captain Wissam Ben Yedder.

Takumi Minamino was still in the starting line-up for the following matchday and played a part in the draw at FC Nantes, scoring with a header from close range.

Takumi Minamino helped the side reach the knockout stage, having scored three times in the Group stage, including a brace against Vietnam U16.

In June 2011, Takumi Minamino selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2011 U-17 World Cup.

Takumi Minamino played four matches and scored a goal against New Zealand U17.

In October 2014, Takumi Minamino was called up by Japan U19 for the AFC U-19 Championship, leading him to withdraw from Cerezo Osaka's first team for three matches.

However, in the quarter-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship against North Korea U19, Takumi Minamino scored an equaliser from a penalty, leading the match to go extra time and penalty shoot-out; which he missed the decisive penalty, leading North Korea U19 to go through.

In January 2016, Takumi Minamino was called up by Japan U23 for the AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar.

Takumi Minamino played all 3 matches and scored a goal against Nigeria.

In May 2014, Takumi Minamino was included in the Japan national team for the preliminary 30-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

In December 2018, Takumi Minamino was one of 23 Japanese players selected for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Takumi Minamino made a total of 6 appearances in the tournament.

Takumi Minamino went on to score five more goals by the end of 2019.

At Salzburg, Takumi Minamino was played in a fluid attacking role that allowed him to move freely and 'unlock doors, pick a pass and move with an elegant gait.