Manaka Matsukubo (松窪 真心, Matsukubo Manaka, born 28 July 2004) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She plays internationally for Japan women's national under-20 football team and was an integral part of the team that made the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final.[2]
Matsukubo made her professional debut for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season.[3] She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.[4]
On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024.[3] She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023.[2] With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest to score.[4] In the Challenge Cup final against Racing Louisville, she was named the most valuable player of the match after scoring the Courage's second goal with a chip volley in the 2–0 victory.[5][6][7]
Matsukubo scored her first regular-season goal the next week in a 2–1 loss to the Orlando Pride.[8] In the Courage's last regular-season game, Matsukubo crossed to Tyler Lussi for a goal to help the Courage defeat the Washington Spirit 1–0 and clinch their spot in the playoffs.[9]
On 27 June 2024, Matsukubo was signed by the Courage permanently through 2025.[10]
Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022.[11] She was called up to play for the U-20 Japan Women's National Team for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in 2024, but she left early to return to her club.[12]
JFA Academy Fukushima
North Carolina Courage
Individual
Lokasi Pengunjung: 3.149.26.83