Manaka Matsukubo 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 and the Japan national team.
She became the youngest player to be named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NWSL Challenge Cup final at just 19 years old.
She set records in the 2023 Challenge Cup as the youngest player to both start and score in the tournament.
She helped lead Japan to the final of two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups, in 2022 and 2024, finishing as a runner-up in both tournaments.
She made her professional debut in Japan’s WE League at the age of 18.
During her youth career at JFA Academy Fukushima, she played every match in the 2020 and 2021 league seasons, earning both the MVP and top scorer honors in each year.
She joined North Carolina Courage on loan in July 2023; the move became permanent in 2024.
| Nike Tokyo |
| Nadeshiko Challenge League: 2020 | 1× |
| Nadeshiko League 2: 2021 | 1× |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: 2023 | 1× |
| SheBelieves Cup: 2025 | 1× |
| FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Silver Medal: 2022, 2024 | 2× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2023
-
present
|
North Carolina Courage | 33 | 5 |
|
2023
-
|
Mynavi Sendai Ladies | 12 | 4 |
|
2019
-
2022
|
JFA Academy Fukushima | 46 | 30 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2024
-
present
|
Japan | 3 | 0 |
|
2022
-
present
|
Japan U20 | 16 | 7 |
