Homare Sawa: The Queen of Japanese Football
Homare Sawa: The Queen of Japanese Football
She played in six World Cups, scored the goal that defined a nation’s greatest sporting night, and became the first Asian footballer ever named the world’s best. Homare Sawa is, simply, Japanese football’s greatest icon.
Homare Sawa is the greatest figure in Japanese football history. The midfielder led Nadeshiko Japan to victory at the 2011 Women’s World Cup, where she won both the Golden Ball (best player) and the Golden Boot (top scorer) and scored a famous extra-time equaliser in the final against the USA. Later that year she was named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year — the first Asian footballer, male or female, ever to win FIFA’s top individual award. She played in six World Cups and four Olympics and holds Japan’s records for caps and goals.
In this guide
1. Who Homare Sawa is
2. The 2011 World Cup
3. The world’s best player
4. Why she matters
1. Who Homare Sawa is
The defining player of Japanese women’s football.
Homare Sawa made her Japan debut at 15 and went on to a career of unmatched longevity and influence, playing in six World Cups and four Olympic Games and setting Japan’s all-time records for appearances and goals.1 A complete central midfielder, she was the heartbeat of the national team for two decades.
2. The 2011 World Cup
At the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany, Sawa was unstoppable. She finished as the tournament’s top scorer and was named its best player, and in the final against the United States she scored a dramatic extra-time equaliser — a deft flick from a corner — that took the game to penalties, where Japan won to become world champions for the first time.1 It remains arguably the single greatest moment in Japanese football.
3. The world’s best player
Sawa’s 2011 was crowned when she was named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year — the first footballer from Asia, of any gender, to win FIFA’s top individual prize.1 For a country that had long looked up to Europe and the Americas, it was a watershed: a Japanese player, recognised as the best on earth. ⚠ This is a historical profile; the records are settled.
4. Why she matters
- She won it all. World Cup, Golden Ball, Golden Boot and FIFA’s world player award — in one year.
- She broke a barrier for Asia. The first Asian footballer named the world’s best.
- She inspired a generation. The 2011 win transformed women’s football in Japan.
In five lines
- Homare Sawa is the greatest icon of Japanese football.
- She led Nadeshiko Japan to the 2011 Women’s World Cup title.
- She won the 2011 Golden Ball and Golden Boot and scored the final’s extra-time equaliser.
- She was named 2011 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year — the first Asian footballer to win it.
- She played six World Cups and holds Japan’s caps and goals records.
The players who made history
Explore the legends of Japanese football, men’s and women’s.
Sources & notes
- Homare Sawa — 2011 Women’s World Cup champion, Golden Ball & Golden Boot, extra-time equaliser in the final; 2011 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year (first Asian footballer to win FIFA’s top award); six World Cups; Japan caps/goals records. Olympics.com (JP); Wikipedia (JA)
A historical player profile dated 14 June 2026. Confirm specifics against official sources where needed.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月14日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月14日
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