Leo Kokubo

Leo Kokubo
Kokubo with Benfica in 2020
Personal information
Full name Leo Brian Kokubo
Date of birth (2001-01-23) 23 January 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Chiba, Japan
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Sint-Truiden
Number 16
Youth career
Kashiwa Effort
0000–2019 Kashiwa Reysol
2019–2022 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Benfica B 25 (0)
2024– Sint-Truiden 0 (0)
International career
2017 Japan U16 1 (0)
2019 Japan U18 1 (0)
2022– Japan U23 9 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Uzbekistan Team
Gold medal – first place 2024 Qatar Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 July 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 May 2024

Leo Brian Kokubo (小久保 玲央 ブライアン, Kokubo Reo Buraian, born 23 January 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian team Sint-Truiden.

International career

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Kokubo was born in Japan to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother. He is a youth international for Japan, having represented the Japan U16s, U18s and U23s.[1]

In the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup final, Kokubo saved penalty shot by Umarali Rakhmonaliev during stoppage time, helping Japan secure their 1–0 score against Uzbekistan, winning the competition for the second time in their history. He was consequently named as "Man of the match" for his heroic performance in the final.[2][3]

Career statistics

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As of 11 July 2024[4]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Benfica B 2021–22 Liga Portugal 2 9 0 9 0
2022–23 Liga Portugal 2 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Liga Portugal 2 16 0 16 0
Total 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0
Sint-Truiden 2024–25 Belgian Pro League 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0

Honours

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Benfica

Japan U23

References

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  1. ^ "柏U-18のGK小久保玲央ブライアンが"縁ある"ベンフィカに加入". ゲキサカ. 26 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title". AFC. 4 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Japan lay down Olympic marker". FIFA. 4 May 2024.
  4. ^ Leo Kokubo at Soccerway
  5. ^ Vaza, Marco (9 August 2023). "Benfica soube mudar para ganhar a Supertaça". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 August 2023.