Lionel Messi turned 34 today on Thursday, June 24. Tribuna.com's user Kromah Musa has wished the Barcelona icon to "keep playing for as long as Kazuyoshi Miura" but who is the Japanese?
Miura is the world's oldest active professional footballer who celebrated his 54th birthday on February 26.
Kazuyoshi signed his first professional contract with Santos in 1986 and has played in 674 matches for 14 different clubs since then.
The former Japan international now represents Yokohama FC. Miura is tied with the Tokyo-based club until January 2022.
Earlier this year, Kazuyoshi said that he doesn't want to retire in the next two or three years.
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'Happy Birthday, to The GOAT!': Football world reacts as Leo Messi turns 34 today
Lionel Messi celebrates his 34th birthday today on Thursday, June 24!
Here's how the football world has reacted to the Barcelona legend's special day.
Tribuna.com
Mayourprinx21: "Lionel Messi turns 34 Years Old. Thank you, God, I feel so much blessed to have witnessed The Era of Lionel Messi. Will cherish Every Single Moment of His Career. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOAT!"
RONALDINHO XCHANGE: "Happy 34th birthday to my idol, Leo Messi. Thank you for everything you’ve done for football and for the fans. We all love you so much. I’m happy and sad at the same time. I’m happy cause it’s your 34th birthday and sad cause I won’t be seeing you for a long time on the pitch. You always have been humble on and off the pitch."
Field Marshall Herbertinho Echendu: "If I have the power to give you the world cup and Copa America, then it will be my solitary gift to you but all I pray is you add them to your collection before you call it time on football."
King Emascon King: "Happy birthday to the football Lord My prayer is for you to play for till your 52 years old before you hang your boot. I wish you injury-free... Amen."
Danqi0935: "When he retires, the entire world will shed a tear."
Username-_-Password: "Praying that he gets to lift one more champions league trophy as captain before the inevitable end of his career which none of us wants comes around."
Luis Enrique: 'Leo Messi is a genius, clearly, just like Beethoven or Dali'
"It’s impossible to carry the ball so close at that speed," Luis Enrique has said in an interview with TV3.
"Losing for Messi is very hard for him. You could see it the next day, after the match. In football, Leo Messi is a genius, clearly, just like Beethoven or Dali."
Enrique coached Messi for three years at Barcelona so he definitely knows what he's talking about.
Moreover, the current Spain boss remains to be the last coach who led Messi and Co. to the Champions League triumph as the Catalans are yet to win the coveted trophy since claiming the treble under Lucho in 2015.
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