Manaka Matsukubo

Manaka Matsukubo (松窪 真心, Matsukubo Manaka; born 28 July 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Japan national team. She helped lead Japan U-20 to the final of the 2022 and 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cups, receiving the Silver Ball at the latter tournament.

Manaka Matsukubo
松窪 真心

Manaka with the North Carolina Courage in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Manaka Matsukubo
Date of birth	(2004-07-28) 28 July 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan[1]
Height	1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward / attacking midfielder[2]
Team information
Current team	North Carolina Courage
Number	34
Youth career
2017–2022	JFA Academy Fukushima
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	JFA Academy Fukushima	46	(30)
2023–	Mynavi Sendai	12	(4)
2023–	North Carolina Courage	37	(7)
International career‡
2019	Japan U16
2022–2024	Japan U20	16	(7)
2025–	Japan	2	(0)
Medal record Women's football Representing  Japan FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Runner-up Colombia 2024
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23 February 2025

Club career

Mynavi Sendai

Manaka made her professional debut for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season.^[3] She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.^[4]

North Carolina Courage

On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Manaka on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024.^[3] She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023.^[5] With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest to score.^[4] She scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Racing Louisville in the Challenge Cup final on 9 September, being named the most valuable player of the match.^[6][7][8] Manaka scored her first NWSL regular-season goal the next week in a 2–1 loss to the Orlando Pride.^[9] On the final matchday of 2023, she assisted Tyler Lussi in a 1–0 win over the Washington Spirit that clinched the Courage's spot in the playoffs.^[10]

On 27 June 2024, Manaka was signed by the Courage permanently through 2025.^[11]

International career

Youth national team

Manaka played for Japan's under-20 side during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022,^[12] scoring one goal as Japan made it to the final.

She was called up to play at the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup scored 3 goals, but she left early to return to her club.^[13]

She was selected for her second U-20 Women's World Cup in 2024.^[14] In the semifinals, she scored both of the goals in a 2–0 victory over the Netherlands.^[15] She scored three goals in all at the tournament and received the Silver Ball as its second-best player.

Senior national team

Manaka received her first call-up to Japan's full team in October 2024.^[16] She made her senior debut on 20 February 2025, coming on as a substitute for Maika Hamano during a 4–0 win against Australia at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 October 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup[b]		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
North Carolina Courage	2024	NWSL	14	2	—		—		14	2
	Total		21	3	—		2	1	23	4
Career Total			79	37	5	3	2	1	84	41

1. Includes Empress's Cup
2. Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, NWSL Challenge Cup

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