Japan’s national football team paid a touching tribute to captain Wataru Endo during their FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands after the veteran midfielder was forced to withdraw from the tournament through injury and subsequently announced his retirement from international football.
In an emotional gesture, Japan placed Endo’s shirt on the team’s bench throughout the match, ensuring the influential captain remained symbolically present with his teammates despite his absence from the field.
The tribute came just days after Endo confirmed that his international career had come to an unexpected end.
The injury, sustained shortly before the tournament, ruled him out of the World Cup and led the 33-year-old to make the difficult decision to step away from national team football.
Endo has been one of the most important figures in Japanese football over the past decade. Since making his senior debut in 2015, he has earned more than 70 caps for the Samurai Blue and represented his country at multiple major tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.
Known for his leadership, discipline and tireless work in midfield, Endo became captain of the national team and played a key role in Japan’s rise as one of Asia’s strongest football nations. His performances also earned him recognition in Europe, where he enjoyed successful spells in Germany before joining Liverpool in the English Premier League.
Japan’s players showed their determination to honour their captain during the World Cup clash against the Netherlands.
Despite facing one of Europe’s strongest teams, the Japanese side displayed resilience and team spirit, qualities that Endo himself embodied throughout his career.
