Nakayama hangs up his boots
Former Japan striker Masashi Nakayama, who scored the country's first ever World Cup goal, said Tuesday he was retiring as he could no longer push his body to the limit at the age of 45.
"When I wish to play at certain levels, my body won't respond to it," he told a news conference in Sapporo, home to his J-League club Consadole Sapporo.
"With recurring pain, I cannot stand on the stage to fight," said Nakayama, who said he will not be playing next season.
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