Kento Misao

Kento Misao
三竿 健斗

Misao playing for Kashima Antlers in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Kento Misao[1]
Date of birth	(1996-04-16) 16 April 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder, centre back
Team information
Current team	Kashima Antlers
Number	6
Youth career
	Yokogawa Musashino
0000–2014	Tokyo Verdy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015	Tokyo Verdy	39	(0)
2016–2022	Kashima Antlers	182	(4)
2023	Santa Clara	17	(0)
2023–2024	OH Leuven	20	(1)
2024–	Kashima Antlers	15	(1)
International career
2013	Japan U17	2	(0)
2017–	Japan	6	(0)
Medal record Kashima Antlers Winner AFC Champions League 2018 Winner J1 League 2016 Runner-up J1 League 2017 Winner Emperor's Cup 2016 Representing  Japan AFC U-23 Championship 2016 Qatar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:12, 14 January 2025 (UTC)

Kento Misao (三竿 健斗, Misao Kento, born 16 April 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre back for J1 League club Kashima Antlers.^[2]

Misao was converted to a central midfielder during his time in Tokyo Verdy's youth ranks,^[3] On 18 April 2014, he was registered as a second-tier player for Tokyo Verdy's first team.^[4] Misao was fully promoted to first team of Verdy in 2015.^[5]

In January 2016, Misao signed for Kashima Antlers. On 5 July 2017, he played as a center-back against Gamba Osaka.^[6]

He was chosen as one of the candidates for award 2018 Asian Footballer of the Year.^[7]

After consistently good seasons at Kashima Antlers, he experienced a different role on his last season with the club. Since Mitsuo Ogasawara's retirement on 2018, he started several matches wearing the captain's armband, despite the relatively young age for a player to be named captain. On 2022, due to many problems regarding the back-line underperformances at the start of the season, Misao had to switch his position, playing as a center-back for the most part of the season.

After showcasing his versatility and consistency at the Antlers, Misao was considered by Santa Clara as "a polivalent midfielder, who despite having better defensive proficiency, can also play in less defensive roles in the midfield."^[8] In December 2022, the then 26-year old Misao was announced for them as a 2022–23 new mid-season signing, coming in an initial transfer period of one season and a half, with an option to extend his contract for another two seasons.^[9]

On 19 July 2023, Misao was announced at OH Leuven on a two year contract, becoming the first ever Japanese player for OH Leuven.^[10]

On 15 July 2024, Misao was announced at Kashima Antlers.^[11]

In October 2013, Misao was elected for the Japan U-17 national team, as part of the 2013 U-17 World Cup squad. He featured in 2 matches in the tournament.

Misao made his international debut against South Korea on 16 December 2017.^[12]

In May 2018, he was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.^[13] However, Japan's manager Akira Nishino did not select Misao into the final 23-player squad.^[14]

His elder brother Yuto is also a professional footballer.^[15]

On 11 October 2021, it was announced that Misao and Nippon Television announcer Haruna Goto were getting married.^[16]

As of 14 January 2025^{[17][18][19][20]}

• Kento Misao – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Kento Misao at National-Football-Teams.com
• Kento Misao at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Profile at Kashima Antlers