Rikako Kobayashi

Japanese association football player

Rikako Kobayashi (小林 里歌子, Kobayashi Rikako, born July 21, 1997) is a Japanese football player. She plays for the Japan national team. Her brother Seigo Kobayashi is also footballer.

Rikako Kobayashi
Personal information
Full name Rikako Kobayashi
Date of birth (1997-07-21) July 21, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Youth career
2013–2015 Tokiwagi Gakuen High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza 45 (27)
National team
2014 Japan U-17 5 (2)
2019– Japan 12 (4)
Honours
Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Winner Nadeshiko League 2016
Winner Nadeshiko League 2017
Winner Nadeshiko League 2018
Winner Nadeshiko League 2019
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2016
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2018
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2019
Winner Empress's Cup 2017
Winner Empress's Cup 2018
Winner Empress's Cup 2019
Winner Empress's Cup 2020
Representing  Japan
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 China
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Costa Rica
AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2013 China
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of the 2020 season
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of December 31, 2020

Biography

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Kobayashi was born in Kobe on July 21, 1997. After graduating from Tokiwagi Gakuen High School, she joined Nadeshiko League club Nippon TV Beleza (later Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza) in 2016.[1] However she could not play in first 2 seasons due to injury. She debuted in 2018 season.

In 2013, Kobayashi was selected the Japan U-16 national team for 2013 AFC U-16 Championship. She scored 7 goals and became a top scorer. Japan team also won the championship. In 2014, Kobayashi was selected the Japan U-17 national team for 2014 U-17 World Cup. She played at 5 matches and scored 2 goals, and Japan won the championship.

In 2015, Kobayashi was selected the Japan U-19 national team for 2015 AFC U-19 Championship. Japan won the championship and she was selected Best players award. Although Japan qualified for the 2016 U-20 World Cup, she was not selected Japan team for the tournament due to injury.

In February 2019, Kobayashi was selected the Japan national team for SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on February 27, she debuted against United States.

Statistics

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[2]

Japan national team
Year Apps Goals
2019 12 4
Total 12 4

References

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  1. Nippon TV Beleza(in Japanese)
  2. List of match in 2019 at Japan Football Association (in Japanese)

Other websites

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