Biography
Who is Keisuke Honda?
Early life and career
Keisuke Honda was born in Settsu, Japan, on June 13, 1986. He grew up playing football and belonged to the local junior youth team at Gamba Osaka. During his time as a student at Seiryo High School, he made an appearance at the J.League Cup as a Special Designated Youth Player in 2004. After graduating from high school, he began his professional career in 2005 with the J1 League side Nagoya Grampus Eight.
In January 2008, Keisuke moved to Europe and signed a deal with the Eredivisie club VVV-Venlo. Although his team experienced relegation to the second division in his first six months, he helped them return to the top flight during the 2008 to 2009 season by scoring sixteen goals in thirty-six league appearances. Fans at the club began calling him Emperor Keisuke during this successful period.
Playing in Russia and Italy
At the end of December 2009, Keisuke transferred to the Russian club CSKA Moscow on a four-year contract. During his time with the team, he scored a crucial winning goal against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League, helping CSKA reach the quarter-finals and becoming the first Japanese player to score in the knock-out stages. He also lifted the Russian Cup in 2011 after coming on as a substitute in the final against Alania Vladikavkaz.
In January 2014, Keisuke officially joined the Italian club AC Milan on a free transfer, wearing the famous number ten jersey. He scored his first Serie A goal against Genoa in April of that year. Throughout his time with Milan, he scored several goals and provided key assists in both the league and the Coppa Italia, helping his squad reach the tournament final in 2016 and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League in 2017.
Global club career
After leaving Italy, Keisuke continued his career across multiple continents. In July 2017, the Mexican club Pachuca announced his signing. He made a strong impact by scoring on his debut and later participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, where his team finished in third place. He finished his season with Pachuca scoring thirteen goals and providing eight assists across all competitions.
In August 2018, Keisuke signed with the Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory, scoring on his debut and later captaining the side in the AFC Champions League. He subsequently played for Vitesse in the Netherlands, Botafogo in Brazil where he also served as team captain, and Portimonense in Portugal. Throughout his extensive career, he became known for scoring professional goals across six separate continents.
International career
Keisuke earned over ninety international caps for the Japan national team between 2008 and 2018. He represented his country on the global stage by playing in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 FIFA World Cups. He was also a key member of the squad that won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, where his strong performances earned him the title of Player of the Tournament.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Keisuke made history by scoring against Senegal. This achievement made him the first Asian player to score against a nation from every single continent. His international career stands as a significant part of his legacy in Japanese football history, marked by numerous appearances and crucial tournament goals.
Birthday and age
Keisuke Honda was born on June 13, 1986, which makes Keisuke 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Keisuke shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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