Leicester star Shinji Okazaki scores his 50th international goal for Japan joining only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney in the Premier League
SHINJI OKAZAKI hit his 50th international goal for Japan on Tuesday – joining Wayne Rooney as Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the only active Premier League players to reach the landmark.
Okazaki struck against Thailand in a 4-0 World Cup qualification win, in his 108th cap for Japan.
Getty Images Shinji Okazaki scored his 50th international goal for Japan against Thailian[/caption]
Getty Images Okazaki’s 50th goal came in his 108th cap for his country[/caption]
The Leicester striker said: “I’m incredibly happy to get that goal.
“I hadn’t scored for a while so it was a relief.
“Hopefully I can keep on scoring goals for Japan.”
“We’re not at the World Cup yet,” he added.
“We have to make sure we keep taking our chances and win our remaining games.”
The former Stuttgart and Mainz forward hasn’t been known for his goals since joining Leicester last season.
He’s bagged just 11 in 70 matches for the Foxes and has often found himself on the bench or the first man to be subbed.
Reuters Okazaki – along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney – is one of just three players in the Premier League with 50 international goals[/caption]
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But Okazaki has been a stud at international level.
His first 20 matches brought a whopping 15 goals – including consecutive hat-tricks against Hong Kong and Togo in October 2009.
Although a number of his goals have come against lesser nations, Okazaki has also been a big game player for Japan.
He scored nine goals in 2014 World Cup qualification and has seven already in qualifying for Russia – Japan are edging closer to their sixth successive World Cup.
Getty Images Okazaki has proved himself a big-game player for Japan over the years[/caption]
Only Ibrahimovic and Rooney are currently playing in the Premier League with 50 international goals.
Both appear to be coming to the end of their international careers – although one is wanted and one is not.
Ibrahimovic retired from his brilliant international career after a disappointing Euro 2016.
It was a disappointing end to a career that saw the 35-year-old score 62 goals in 116 caps for Sweden.
Rooney’s international career no longer seems to be on his own terms.
Getty Images Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored 62 goals in a brilliant career for Sweden[/caption]
Gareth Southgate left England’s highest ever goalscorer out of his most recent squad.
Rooney, 31, has 53 goals for the Three Lions but has struggled with injuries and form in recent months.
Okazaki is the 55th player to reach the half-century mark of international goals.
Former Premier League players Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo and Stern John.
News Group Newspapers Ltd Wayne Rooney has 53 England goals – but was left out of Gareth Southgate’s most recent England squad[/caption]
Iran ace Ali Daei remains the only player to have scored more than 100 international goals – the former Bayern Munich striker scored 109 in 149 matches between 1993 and 2006.
Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas is the top European scorer, his 84 goals came in just 89 international caps in the 1940s and 50s.
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