Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Manaka Matsukubo (松窪 真心, Matsukubo Manaka, born 28 July 2004) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played for Japan women's national under-20 football team and was an integral part of the team that made the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final. She made history in the NWSL when she became the youngest player to start in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup and also became the youngest player to score in the Challenge Cup.
Club career
Mynavi Sendai
Matsukubo made her professional debut for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season. She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.
North Carolina Courage (loan)
On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024. She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023. With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest to score. In the Challenge Cup final against Racing Louisville, she was named the MVP after scoring on a chip volley off a pass from Tess Boade in the 54th minute, lifting the Courage to the final score of 2–0.
Matsukubo scored her first regular-season goal the next week in a 2–1 loss to the Orlando Pride. In the Courage's last regular-season game, Matsukubo had an assist—a cross converted by Tyler Lussi—in the Courage's 1–0 win against the Washington Spirit that clinched their spot in the playoffs.
International career
Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 23 October 2023
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| JFA Academy Fukushima | 2019 | Challenge League | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| 2020 | Challenge League | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | |
| 2021 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 15 | |
| 2022 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 | |
| Total | 46 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 33 | ||
| Mynavi Sendai | 2022–23 | WE League | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| North Carolina Courage (loan) | 2023 | NWSL | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | |
| Career Total | 65 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 72 | 39 | ||
Honours
JFA Academy Fukushima
- Nadeshiko Challenge League: 2020
- Nadeshiko League 2: 2021
North Carolina Courage
- NWSL Challenge Cup: 2023
Individual
- WE League Outstanding Player Award: 2022–23
