Mina Tanaka is a professional footballer who plays as a forward and midfielder for National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals and the Japan women's national team.
She was born in Thailand to a Japanese father and a Thai mother before returning to Japan, where she grew up in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa.
She debuted for Nippon TV Beleza in 2011, and by 2016 and 2017, she became the top scorer and was selected for the Best Eleven three years in a row.
She has a cat.
She sees her self as an extroverted person.
She says she is more of a night owl.
She has an older brother with whom she started playing football.
She prefers beach over mountains.
Her favorite place to travel to is Myakojyo in Okinawa in Japan.
Growing up, she was inspired by Japanese legend Homare Sawa.
She has represented Japan at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.
She was part of Japan's U-17 team that finished as runners-up in the 2010 U-17 World Cup.
She helped Japan’s U-20 team secure third place in the 2012 U-20 World Cup.
In the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she scored against Spain in a 4–0 victory for Japan.
She only started learning English after coming to the US.
On her days off, she likes hiking in the Utah mountains.
| Nike |
| Nadeshiko League | 5× |
| Empress's Cup | 4× |
| Nadeshiko League Cup | 3× |
| AFC Women's Club Championship | 1× |
| WE League | 1× |
| Asian Cup | 1× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024
-
present
|
Utah Royals | 7 | 1 |
|
2020
-
2021
|
Bayern Leverkusen (loan) | 10 | 4 |
|
2020
-
2024
|
INAC Kobe Leonessa | 71 | 42 |
|
2011
-
2019
|
Tokyo Verdy Beleza | 227 | 165 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2013
-
present
|
Japan | 85 | 35 |
|
2012
-
|
Japan U20 | 6 | 0 |
|
2010
-
|
Japan U17 | 3 | 1 |
