Ayase Ueda

Ayase Ueda is Japan's first-choice centre-forward, a sharp, mobile striker with a poacher's eye for goal. He came through at Kashima Antlers before moving to Europe with Cercle Brugge, then earned a switch to Dutch champions Feyenoord, where he won the Eredivisie golden boot with 24 league goals. Strong in the air and relentless in his running, he leads the line for the Samurai Blue.

He underlined his importance at the 2026 World Cup with a brace in Japan's 4-0 rout of Tunisia.