Maya Yoshida

At 36 years old, Maya Yoshida has this physical status:

Maya Yoshida (born 24 August 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Southampton and the Japan national team.

Yoshida is also the captain of the Japanese national football team.

Personal life

Yoshida has two brothers: Mirei and Honami He later credited his older brother, Honami, for playing an important role in his football career. Before he was born, his name "Maya" was originally planned for a girl when his mother was pregnant. But the name was kept even if it was a boy who was born. Yoshida revealed on his blog on 26 September 2012 that he was married. Four years later, Yoshida revealed he was a first time father when his wife gave birth to a baby daughter. During his time at Southampton, Yoshida resided in Winchester. After spending seven years at Southampton, Yoshida revealed in an interview with SunSport that he's a permanent resident in the United Kingdom and feels 25 per cent English.

His family runs a boarding house in Nagasaki for children who cannot go to high school. Growing up, Yoshida revealed he's a fan of Dragon Ball Z and had an entire collection until his Dad gave it to charity. Yoshida reflected on this, saying it helped him to think generously and give back to society. In November 2007, Yoshida signed for an agency with Tetsuro Kiyooka, a FIFA Players' Agent (Sports agent), in hopes of moving to Europe. It worked when he joined VVV-Venlo, three years later after signing for Tetsuro Kiyooka. Since moving to Europe, Yoshida created his personal blog, where he reflected about his experience living and playing in a different continent. On every anniversary of the Atomic bombings, Yoshida, who is from Nagasaki, spoke out about the thoughts of the event.

In May 2018, Yoshida published his first book titled "Unbeatable Mind". In addition to speaking Japanese, Yoshida is fluent in English since he first studied the language in middle school. Yoshida also studied Italian and Spanish. By August 2020, Yoshida began to speak Italian fluently.

On 9 August 2013, it was announced that Yoshida would be on the front cover of the Japanese Edition of FIFA 14. During his Japan's career, Yoshida said he considered Atsuto Uchida as fellow competitor, yet his best friend, and is also friends with Eiji Kawashima. Yoshida has an uncle, Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi, who is a former professional baseball player. He is also a part-owner of Soccer Samurai. In August 2019, Yoshida revealed that he was pledging one percent of his salary to a pledge-based charitable movement, named Saints Foundation. Two months later, Yoshida was named ambassador for the Saints' Foundation along with teammate James Ward-Prowse.

In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, Yoshida posted a message on his social media account, urging people to stay at home. While the season was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yoshida said he exercised daily for three months in order to maintain his fitness. In May 2020, Yoshida used his own money to buy 10,000 masks from Japan and deliver them to hospitals in Genoa.

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Club career

Yoshida, a born in Nagasaki, Japan, started playing football at Nanling FC in his second year in primary school. Honami, the older brother of Nagoya Grampus's U-15 team, was instrumental in starting his football career, and Yoshida joined the U-15 team. Yoshida and his family were relocated to Nagoya Grampus after Yoshida's arrival.

After five years with Nagoya Grampus Youth Academy, he was promoted to the first team in the 2007 season, after signing his first professional contract. Yoshida joined the club's first team training shortly after and began playing as a defensive midfielder, but the team's youth team had to switch to a center back, but not before. Yoshida made his debut for the team on May 3, 2007, when the club lost 2–1 against Oita Trinita. Since then, he has been a first team regular for the team, playing in the center-back role. Yoshida scored his first Nagoya Grampus goal against Thespa Kusatsu in the Emperor's Cup's fourth round, but it wasn't until November 5, 2007 that he scored his first Nagoya Grampus goal. He made twenty-four appearances and scoring once in all leagues at the end of the 2007 season.

Yoshida made his debut in the starting lineup for the majority of the league matches with Serbian teammate Milo Bajalica. He started the season off right by helping the team go undefeated in seven games in all competitions. Yoshida continued to play for the first team until he was called up to the Japan U23 squad in July. After Japan U23's withdrawal in the Summer Olympics, Yoshida returned to the starting line against Kashima Antlers on August 23 and scored his first goal of the season. He dropped his first team position and was placed on the reserve bench for the next five games, limiting his playing time. Yoshida's second goal came against FC Gifu in the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup on November 2nd, 2008, and the team won 1–0. He regained his first team spot for the remaining games of the season by mid-October and helped the team finish third place in the league. At the 14th Aichi Toyota "Grand Pass Rankle Award" for his achievements, Yoshida was named Rookie of the Year. In all competitions, he made twenty-nine appearances and scoring two times.

Yoshida changed number shirt to four on the 2009 season's first day. In the match against Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i on March 10, he scored Nagoya Grampus's first goal in the AFC Champions League. Yoshida continued to play in the center-back role in his first team appearance. In a 2–1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos, he scored his second goal of the season on April 26. However, Yoshida sustained a calf injury that kept him sidelined for two weeks. In a 1–1 draw against Kyoto Sanga, Yoshida led his team back to action on July 18, 2009, and started the entire game. In a 2–1 victory over FC Tokyo eleven days later on July 29, 2009, he scored his third goal of the season, but the team was eliminated in the J.League Cup after a 6–3 on aggregate. Yoshida scored against Kashiwa Reysol and Kawasaki Frontale in September, scoring against Kashiwa Reysol and Kawasaki Frontale. Yoshida regained his first team position for the remaining games of the season after returning to the first team. He then scored two more goals in October. In a 3–1 victory over Jbilo Iwata in the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup, Yoshida scored his eighth goal of the season. After beating Shimizu S-Pulse 5-4 on penalty shootout, he later helped the team reach the Emperor's Cup final after a 1–1 draw in 120 minutes. However, Nagoya Grampus lost 4–1 in what was also his last game for the club as he started in the Emperor's Cup Final against Gamba Osaka. Yoshida made forty-eight appearances and scoring eight times in all competitions at the end of the 2009 season.

Yoshida had signed to Dutch club VV-Venlo in December 2009, extending his three-year contract. Since he was a child, he had longed to play for a European club. Keisuke Honda, his teammate at Nagoya Grampus, introduced Tetsuro Kiyooka to assist with his future dreams. In fact, Yoshida followed Keisuke Honda who also played for VVV-Venlo before joining them. Yoshida's VVV-Venlo career got off to a rocky start when he fractured his foot and left him sidelined for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.

Yoshida recovered from his fractured foot at the start of the 2010–11 season. In a 5-3 loss to FC Groningen, it wasn't until October 30th, 2010, that he made his VVV-Venlo debut, as a 75th-minute replacement, and set up the club's third goal of the season. Yoshida made his debut on the team and became a first team regular. In a 3–0 victory over NAC Breda on February 5, 2011, he made his first team return after spending January with Japan and winning the tournament, and winning the tournament. As VVV-Venlo registered for the relegation play-offs, Yoshida regained his first team position for the remaining games of the season. He appeared in all four games in the relegation play-offs and helped the club maintain their Element league status. Yoshida made twenty-four appearances in all competitions after the 2010–11 season.

Yoshida continued to play in the center-back position at the start of the 2011–12 season. VV-Venlo defeated PSV Eindhoven on September 11, 2011 with a corner kick. This goal was named as the Economy's "Goal of the Season 2011-2012" for the Ecrisie. In a 4–1 victory over RKC Waalwijk on October 22, the Yoshida scored his second goal of the season. In a 4–1 victory over De Graafschap on February 18, he hadn't scored his third goal of the season until the day on February 18, 2012. In a 2–1 victory over NAC Breda on March 3, Yoshida's fourth goal of the season came on March 3. In a 3–1 loss, he scored his fifth goal of the season against Roda JC, but was suspended in the 73rd minute for an unprofessional foul. Yoshida returned to the starting line-up after serving a two-match suspension in a 2–0 loss against PSV Eindhoven on March 31. He later started all four games in the relegation play-offs and helped the club maintain their Elementarian league status once more. Yoshida's participation in the relegation play-offs led him to write a blog on the subject. Yoshida continued to make thirty-seven appearances and scoring five times in all leagues as a central defender throughout the 2011–12 season.

Yoshida made two appearances for the team in 2012–13 season, including one against ADO Den Haag on August 25, 2012, when the club lost 4–2 in what proved to be his last game for VVV-Venlo.

Yoshida, 22, agreed to join Southampton in the Premier League on a three-year deal for a fee that is estimated to be in the region of £3 million, and was joined by his colleague, Tadanari Lee. He told the Southern Daily Echo that moving to England would help him develop as a player.

Yoshida made his Saints debut against Arsenal in a 6–1 loss on September 15, 2012, when he was introduced as a 28th-minute replacement for Jos Hooiveld. In a 4–1 win over Aston Villa a week later, he made his home debut a week later on September 22nd, 2012, playing the full 90 minutes. Yoshida made a quick return to the team, playing in the center-back position and creating a club relationship with José Fonte shortly after joining the team. Yoshida made a poor decision to the ball that resulted in Nathan Dyer scoring an equalizer during a 1-1 draw against Swansea City on November 10, 2012. Despite this, he maintained his first team position against Queens Park Rangers and helped them win 3–1 on November 15, 2012. Along the way, he was switched between left-back and right-back positions. Yoshida, who made his Southampton debut, played in every match for the club and helped the team and the player, himself, improve the team's results. Having started the 2012–13 season in last place, his results have increased and he has helped the team avoid relegation by finishing 14th in the top of the table. He made thirty-four appearances in all competitions in his first season at Southampton.

However, Yoshida's first team opportunities became restricted under former coach Mauricio Pochettino's leadership, and he found himself on the replacement bench at the start of the 2013–14 season. Despite this, he made his first appearance of the season on a 5–1 victory over Barnsley on August 27, 2013. In a 2–1 loss to Sunderland in the League Cup on Friday, Yoshida scored his first goal for Southampton. In a 3–2 loss to Aston Villa a month later, he made his first Premier League appearance, starting the whole game. Following Dejan Lovren's injury, Yoshida's team played in January for the first time, and the results followed. In a 3-1 loss to West Ham United on February 22, 2014, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–1 loss. Steven Davis free kick. However, following Lovern's return, he was once more behind the pecking order in the centre-back tournaments, as well as, his own injury issues. Yoshida continued to make fourteen appearances and scoring twice in all leagues at the end of the 2013-2014 season.

Following Lovern's departure, Yoshida regained his first team position and began playing in the center-back position at the start of the 2014–15 season. During a 1–0 victory over Swansea City on September 20, 2014, he sustained an ankle injury that required him to be inserted in the second half, resulting in him being sidelined for four weeks. Despite coming back from injury, Yoshida was thrown on the substitute bench against Manchester City on November 30, 2014, when he came as a second-half replacement in a 3–0 loss. In a 3–0 victory over Everton on December 20, 2014, his next goal came from Steven Davis' assistance. Southampton announced on January 8, 2015, Yoshida and the club had agreed to a new deal until 2018. In a 1–0 loss against Swansea City in January, he returned to the starting lineup and watched the entire game. Yoshida played a key role in the match against Queens Park Rangers as he set up the game's sole goal, a 1–0 victory. He was in and out of the starting lineup in the first team and demoted on the replacement bench as the season progressed. Despite this, Yoshida played a key role in the club's seventh position in the league, resulting in qualifying for the UEFA Europa League next season. He made twenty-three appearances and scoring once in all competitions from the 2014–15 season.

Yoshida started the season right by beating Vitesse 5–0 on aggregate in the third round of the UEFA Europa League, with a clean sheet in both legs. However, after losing 2–1 on aggregate against Midtjylland, Yoshida was unable to help Southampton reach the Group Stage of the tournament. Despite this, Yoshida helped the club keep three straight clean sheets between the 23 August 2015 and the September 2015 teams. Since starting in a center-back role, he played in the right-back position, which was due to increased center-back competitions. Yoshida was at fault when his back pass backfired, allowing Anthony Martial to score as Southampton lost 3–2. Following this, Yoshida mostly appeared for the side from the replacement bench due to strong competitions in the defence. He scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season on October 28th, 2015, with a 20-yard shot against Aston Villa in the League Cup. Yoshida's second goal of the season came in a 1–0 victory over West Ham United on February 6, 2016. The club earned qualification of the UEFA Europa League for the sixth time next season after finishing sixth in the league. He made twenty-seven appearances and scoring twice in all sports during the 2015–16 season.

Yoshida played against Watford in the season's first game, resulting in a 1–1 draw. Nevertheless, he was also a back-up in the club's centre-back position behind Virgil van Dijk and Fonte. Despite this, national newspaper Daily Mirror reported Yoshida in their article on Premier League pacesetters. It wasn't until he returned to the starting lineup against Hull City on November 6th, 2016 that he scored a penalty, leading to Southampton's loss of 2–1. Yoshida appeared in all six matches in the UEFA Europa League, despite the league's popularity. In the first two matches, he helped the team keep two clean sheets. After a spectacular 2–1 win over Inter Milan on November 3rd, their forms faded and were barred from the tournament. In a 2–2 draw against Norwich City in the third round of the EFL Cup, Yoshida scored his first goal of the season on January 7, 2017 – his first goal of the season. Following the match, he pledged his affection to his newly born baby girl. Yoshida captained the team for the first time in his Southampton career, beating Norwich City 1–0 in the third round of the FA Cup replay. Southampton defeated Liverpool 2–0 on aggregate in the EFL semi-finals, with indifferent results on both Yoshida and Southampton as a whole. In a built up to the EFL Cup semi-finals, Yoshida has previously helped Southampton keep three clean sheets. However, he got to the final after Southampton defeated Manchester United 3–2 on February 26, 2017. Yoshida regained his first team position for the remainder of the season after Fonte's departure from the club. In a 3–1 victory over Crystal Palace on April 5, 2017, he hadn't scored his second goal of the season yet. Yoshida's results were "fantastic" and said he could be "a captain" for Southampton after the match, according to manager Claude Puel. In a 1–0 win over West Bromwich Albion, Yoshida captained the team once more in a follow-up. In a 0–0 draw against Hull City on May 29, 2017, he made his 100th appearance for Southampton and Premier League as a player in the Japanese premier league, becoming the first Japanese player to reach the milestone. Yoshida made thirty-seven appearances and scoring two times in all competitions at the end of the 2016-17 season, when the club finished in seventh place.

In a 3–2 victory over West Ham United on 19 August 2017, Yoshida appeared in the first three league matches of the season, including winning a penalty and being successfully converted by Austin. Yoshida signed a new contract with Southampton until 2020, according to the firm's announcement on August 24, 2017. He continued to play in center-backs, which resulted in him being placed on the replacement bench. In a 2–1 loss against Stoke City on September 30, Yoshida scored his first goal of the season on a volley in the 75th minute. He captained six out of the eight matches for the team by the end of 2017. In a 4–1 loss to Leicester City on December 13, 2017, Yoshida scored his second goal of the season. However, Yoshida sustained a hamstring injury that kept him out for two weeks. In a 1–0 victory over Watford, it wasn't until after he recovered from injury on January 27th. Yoshida's recovery was short-lived after he sustained a knee injury that kept him out for two months. In a 3–2 loss against Arsenal, Yoshida returned to the starting line and played for 72 minutes before being suspended on April 8, 2018. The club has found themselves in a relegation zone throughout the 2018–18 season, putting their Premier League status in jeopardy. However, he was banned from returning to Swansea City for the second bookable offence, and the club, which everton, needed a win to survive at their hosts' expense. Southampton won the match, so Swansea City was disqualified. Yoshida made 20-eight appearances and scoring two times in all competitions at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Yoshida was linked to a move away from Southampton ahead of the 2018-19 season, with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal keen. But the transfer rumors came to an end after Yoshida declared that he intends to remain at the club. He discovered that his first team opportunities were limited under Mark Hughes' leadership. In a 1–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round of the EFL Cup, Yoshida made his first appearance of the season on August 27, 2018 beginning the whole game. He soon had a first squad, and he had a lot of games by the end of 2018. Yoshida returned to the starting line-up after his international service with Japan came to an end, but the team kept a clean sheet against Fulham on February 27, 2019. Since returning to the first team, he has regained his role for the remainder of the season and helped Southampton avoid relegation once more. Despite being sidelined with an illness that eventually kept him out for the remainder of the 2018-19 season, Yoshida went on to make twenty appearances in all sports.

In a 2–1 loss to Liverpool on August 17, 2019, Yoshida made his first appearance of the season, starting the entire game. For the next two months, he would have his first team play ins. Yoshida was pushed to the bench after losing 9–0 to Leicester City in October and only played two more times for the team. He announced his retirement from the team after eight years on June 30, 2020.

Yoshida joined Sampdoria on loan until the end of the season on January 31. Yoshida's resignation was described as the "end of an era" by a local newspaper.

Yoshida made his Sampdoria debut against Hellas Verona on March 8 and played the entire match after being on the bench for two games. Following his debut for Sampdoria, he quickly became a fan favorite among the club's followers. Nevertheless, this will be his first appearance for Sampdoria as the season was suspended due to the COVID-pandemic pandemic. He remained an integral part of the club even as the season began behind closed doors. Yoshida scored for Manolo Gabbiadini in a match against Udinese on July 12, 2020, assisting Sampdoria in their 3–1 victory. Yoshida made fourteen appearances in all competitions by the end of the 2019-2021 season.

Yoshida returned to Sampdoria after two months of talks over a permanent transfer, signing a one-year deal with the club but receiving a salary cut for doing so. In the first game of the season against Juventus, he was playing on a permanent basis for Sampdoria, losing 3–0. He found himself competing in Omar Colley and Lorenzo Tonelli's center-back roles since joining the club. Despite this, Yoshida stayed in the starting lineup, forming a center-back partnership with Colley or Tonelli. Yoshida played in the right-back position three times between 23 December 2020 and 6 January 2021, due to Bartosz Bereszyski's absence halfway through the 2020–21 season. Following Bereszy's return to action, he returned to play in the center-back position for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season. Yoshida signed a two-year deal with the club on January 1921, extending him until 2022. On January 24, 2021 against Parma, he scored his first goal for the Blucerchiati. Despite suffering setbacks on two occasions during the 2020-2021 season, Yoshida made thirty-four appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

He was announced on 5 July 2022 as a new Schalke 04 player with a one-year deal extending to June 30th, with a renewal option included in his deal.

International career

Following a solid showing at Nagoya Grampus, Yoshida received a call-up for Japan's U-23 team in April 2008 for the first time. In a 2–1 victory over France, he made his Japan U23 debut in the Toulon Tournament on May 22nd and started the entire game. After qualifying the semi-finals, Yoshida continued to make two appearances in the tournament.

Yoshida was named to the Japan U-23 team for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing on July 14, 2008. In a 1–0 loss to the Netherlands on August 13, the team was eliminated from the tournament after appearing twice as an unreserved substitute. Yoshida was called up to the Japan U-23 team for the second time in London's 2012 Summer Olympics. He was named captain by Manager Takashi Sekizuka early in the tournament. In a 1–0 victory, Yoshida's first match as captain came against Spain on July 26, 2012, where the team kept a clean sheet. He maintained two more clean sheets against Morocco U23 and Honduras U23 with a win and draw respectively, resulting in Japan U23 qualifying for the knockout stage in Japan. In a 3–0 draw against Egypt U23 in the quarter-finals, Yoshida scored his first goal of the tournament, scoring a header from Hiroshi Kiyotake's free kick. However, he carried on his lead of Japan U23 to fourth place in the Olympics after losing to Mexico U23 and South Korea U23. "I can understand that the team, which had aspired not so high in the first four years," Yoshida said after the match. I don't know why I could not go on it or get a medal. The Olympics are a gathering of young athletes named U-23, and it's important that as many athletes join the national team as A and stand on the World Cup stage as A.

Yoshida was selected in the squad for his third Olympic tournament, this time on home soil, as one of three available over-age players. He had also confirmed that he would be the tournament's captain. Yoshida was featured in three out of the four friendly matches for the Samurai Blue prior to the start of the Olympics. "I'm sorry for the lack of interest in the Olympics," he said about the Olympics without spectators. Today, a large number of customers came to see us, and the supporters' cheers helped us get through the last 5 minutes and ten minutes. It's a difficult situation. It's a difficult situation no matter which one you refer to." Yoshida quickly clarified his position, saying it was his "personal opinion." He helped Japan win all three games in the group stage and advance to the knockout stage. As the Samurai Blue defeated 4–2 to advance to the semi-finals, Yoshida captained the entire game in 120 minutes with a goalless finish and a winning kick in the penalty shootout. However, Japan lost the next two matches in the semi-finals and bronze medal match against Spain and Mexico respectively. Despite losing a medal as he wished for, Yoshida reflected on his time as Japan's captain, adding: "I had a lot of fun." I thought I could give everyone something, but a young player could absorb a lot of information. I think I was able to develop as a player. Let's be proud and go home. I want to be proud while still going home. This is not the end. Despite this, my soccer life will continue."

Yoshida was called up to the senior national team for the first time in December 2009. In a 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen, he made his full international debut for Japan on January 6, 2010. "Of course Yemen war of 2010 (3-2) because it was all the way to the target, I was happy," Yoshida said on his debut. After breaking his fingers, Yoshida said he was determined to recover from his injury and was hoping to be selected for the 2010 World Cup squad. Yoshida did not make the cut, however.

Yoshida was selected to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in December 2010. Yoshida is expected to debut in the center-back position ahead of the tournament under Alberto Zaccheroni's leadership. In a 1–1 draw against Jordan on 9 January 2011, he scored his first Japan goal. As Japan advanced through the knockout stage, Yoshida continued two more matches in the group's group stage. However, Yoshida was sent–off for his second bookable offence in a 3–2 win over Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup quarterfinals. Yoshida returned to the starting line-ups in the AFC Asian Cup Final against Australia, beating the Socceroos 1–0 to win the AFC Asian Cup after being suspended for one match. Yoshida maintained three cleans between 7 June 2011 and September 2, 2011, including one against North Korea, where he scored the game's only goal. Yoshida also had three more clean sheets between the 7th and the 11th of November 2011.

Following the Olympics, Yoshida continued to help Japan by delivering three straight clean sheets against UAE, Iraq, and France between 6 September 2012 and October 2012. After drawing 1–1 against Australia on June 4, 2013, he later helped Japan qualify for the World Cup. Yoshida was summoned to the Samurai Blue for the 2013 Confederations Cup team two days later. He appeared three times in the tournament, as Japan lost all three games and was disqualified in the Group Stage.

Yoshida was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in May 2014. In the end, he made it to the final cut for the 23-man team. Despite facing opposition from the center of the sport and later, Japan was kicked out of the tournament in the group stage, without winning any matches. Yoshida started all three matches. Despite this, he kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against Greece on June 20th, 2014. As they defeated Honduras 6–0 on November 14, 2014, Yoshida scored his first Japan goal in three years.

Yoshida was selected as a member of the Japanese team of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia in December 2014. In a 4–0 victory, he appeared in Japan's opener against debutant Palestine and scored the final goal. Yoshida helped Japan maintain two more clean sheets in order to progress to the quarter-finals. However, he conceded a goal from Ali Mabkhout before Japan equalized and the match was played for 120 minutes; eventually, they were disqualified after losing in penalty-shootout. Yoshida admitted responsibility for losing a goal from the opposition team after the game.

Yoshida scored again in a 3–0 victory over Cambodia in Japan's World Cup Qualifying Round on September 3, 2015. He later helped Japan keep two more clean sheets against Afghanistan and Syria. In the World Cup Qualifying Round between December 5, 2015 and March 2016, Yoshida kept four more clean sheets. He scored two goals against Singapore and Afghanistan during the run. In a 7-2 victory over Bulgaria three months later, Yoshida scored in his fourth and five goals. For the first time in his career, he captained Japan and led the Samurai Blue to victory over United Arabs Emirates 2–0. Yoshida said after the game: "I have served many times in my squad, but it is a big deal to be the captain of the national team." "I felt it." He scored again in a 4–0 victory in a follow-up match against Thailand. After beating the Socceroos 2–0, three months later, Yoshida started the whole match against Australia and helped Japan qualify for the World Cup.

Yoshida was selected in Russia's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup on May 31. Yoshida was forecast to start in the center-back position going into the tournament once more. In all the group stage matches against Colombia, Senegal, and Poland, he appeared every single minute. After losing 3–2 to Belgium in the first round of the tournament, his team was disqualified. The Guardian and BBC Sport both lauded his World Cup performance.

Yoshida was one of 23 Japanese players selected for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in December 2018. He was voted captaincy for the first time once more in the tournament. Yoshida started the tournament as the tournament's captain after assisting Japan in defeating Turkmenistan 3–2. Yoshida led the team to a 1–0 victory in a follow-up match against Oman, which culminated in a clean sheet. He later helped Japan keep three clean sheets, which led to the Samurai Blue's first appearance since 2011. Yoshida led and captained the team's AFC Asian Cup final against Qatar after losing 3–1 and ending as runners-up in the tournament. He was banned for handball during the match, helping Qatar to convert the penalty to give the opposition team a 3–1 lead. Yoshida wrote: "I felt that the team had a good show in the (semi-final) match against Iran, and that they should continue this way and continue to travel this route." I couldn't control it, and I didn't win. "I'm so sad." However, Yoshida's call-up to the tournament caused squad selection problems for new Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhüttl during his absence. In reaction, he admitted the danger he took by playing for Japan in the Asian Cup.

Yoshida did not receive a call from overseas until August after the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup. He was also granted the captaincy. Yoshida captained the remaining matches of 2019 with clean sheets. In a 6–0 victory over Mongolia on October 10, 2019, he scored his first international goal of the year. Yoshida also played his 100th match for Japan against Kyrgyzstan on November 14, 2019. He was called up to the Samurai Blue squad a year ago, in October 2020. He started four matches as captain by the year's end of the year and helped Japan to keep three clean sheets before losing to Mexico on November 17th, 2020. Yoshida continued to hold his captaincy and aided the Samurai Blue in a string of clean sheets against South Korea, Mongolia, and Myanmar at the start of 2021.

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