Leo Kokubo
Japanese footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leo Brian Kokubo (小久保 玲央 ブライアン, Kokubo Reo Buraian; born 23 January 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian team Sint-Truiden.
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Kokubo with Benfica in 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Leo Brian Kokubo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 23 January 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Chiba, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Sint-Truiden | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kashiwa Effort | ||||||||||||||||||||
| –2019 | Kashiwa Reysol | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2022 | Benfica | |||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Benfica B | 25 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Sint-Truiden | 57 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Japan U16 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Japan U18 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Japan U23 | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 May 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
International career
Kokubo was born in Japan to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother. He is a youth international for Japan, having represented the Japan U16s, U18s and U23s.[1]
On 4 April 2024, Kokubo was called up to the Japan U23 squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[2] In the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup final, he saved a penalty from Umarali Rakhmonaliev during stoppage time, helping Japan secure their 1–0 score against Uzbekistan, winning the competition for the second time in their history. He was consequently named as "Man of the match" for his heroic performance in the final.[3][4]
Career statistics
- As of match played 15 February 2025[5]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2021–22 | Liga Portugal 2 | 9 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Liga Portugal 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Liga Portugal 2 | 16 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 25 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| Sint-Truiden | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Career total | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
