5. Hidetoshi Nakata
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Asia’s first football superstar and the ‘Asian Footballer of the Year’ in 1997 and 1998, Nakata broke into the Japanese national team when he was all of 20 years. The attacking midfielder, whose dribbling runs and passing were a joy to behold, went on to score 5 goals for Japan in their qualifier games thereby sealing his nation’s place in the 1998 World Cup. In the 2002 edition, as Japan co-hosted the tournament, Nakata played a key part in enabling his home country to get through the group stages for the first time.
He became only the second Japanese player in Italy when newly promoted side Perugia bought him in 1998 following his World Cup exploits. He continued to impress fans with his performances and eye for goal. In the seasons to follow, Nakata went on to play for AS Roma and AC Parma, winning the Scudetto (Italian league) with the former and the Coppa Italia with the latter, scoring crucial goals during his time in both teams.
His style of football and fashion sense led him to be labelled as ‘Asia’s answer to David Beckham’. His fame and popularity in Japan, combined with his game-play prompted the Italian press to give him the nickname Gioiellino (little jewel). He was awarded the ‘Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity’ in 2005 for the promotion of football throughout the country. Nakata prematurely retired from football at the age of 29 after suffering from a series of injuries.
