Takefusa Kubo was born on 4 June 2001 in Kawasaki and joined FC Barcelona's youth academy at the age of 10 — the same La Masia generation as several future stars. Forced to return to Japan in 2015 when FIFA imposed transfer restrictions on Barcelona over their underage recruitment, he signed with FC Tokyo and made his J1 League debut at 15, quickly drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi for his low centre of gravity and left-footed close control.
Real Madrid signed him on a free transfer in summer 2019. Rather than rush him into the first team, the club sent him on successive La Liga loans to Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe to give him senior minutes. The breakthrough came in 2022 when he joined Real Sociedad on a permanent deal. In San Sebastián he became a fulcrum of the team, scoring across La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, and was named the club's Player of the Season more than once.
Kubo is a small, technically excellent right-winger who cuts inside on his stronger left foot to shoot or thread defence-splitting passes. His positioning between the lines and ability to receive on the half-turn have made him essential to whichever Japan setup he is in.
He made his senior Japan debut in 2019 at 17, then the youngest player ever to feature for the national side, and started at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He remains, alongside Mitoma, the most-discussed Japanese attacking talent of his generation.