Summary
Rikako Kobayashi (小林 里歌子, Kobayashi Rikako, born 21 July 1997) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a midfielder for the Japan national team. She is the sister of footballer Seigo Kobayashi.
 Kobayashi with the North Carolina Courage in 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Rikako Kobayashi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 July 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kobe, Hyogo, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2023 | Tokyo Verdy Beleza | 72 | (36) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | North Carolina Courage | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 25 | (22) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Japan U-17 | 5 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019– | Japan | 16 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 21, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 17, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career edit
Kobayashi was born in Hyogo Prefecture on 21 July 1997. She attended and played for Tokiwagi Gakuen High School, which competed in the second-division Challenge League. She led Tokiwagi Gakuen, the only high school competing in senior league competition at the time, to its first and only third-division Challenge League championship in 2015[1] as the league's top scorer[2] and most valuable player.[2] She also won the 2015 AFC young player of the year award.[3]
She joined L.League club Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2016.[4] However, she could not play in her first two seasons due to injury and debuted in the 2018 season.[citation needed]
On 17 July 2023, North Carolina Courage of the American National Women's Soccer League announced their signing of Kobayashi for a two-year contract through the 2024 NWSL season, with an option for an additional year.[5][6] After failing to make a professional appearance for North Carolina due to injury, the club and Kobayashi mutually agreed to terminate her contract on 21 March 2024.[7]
National team career edit
In 2013, Kobayashi was selected in 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 in Japan U-17 national team for 2014 U-17 World Cup.[8] She played 5 matches and scored 2 goals, and Japan won the championship.
In 2015, Kobayashi was selected 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 to the Japan team for the tournament due to injury.[citation needed]
In February 2019, Kobayashi was selected Japan national team for SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on 27 February, she debuted against United States.[9]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of match played 10 June 2023
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Continental[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2016 | Nadeshiko League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Nadeshiko League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 15 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2019 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 16 | |
| 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 14 | 13 | 5 | 6 | — | — | 19 | 19 | |||
| 2021–22 | WE League | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 11 | 4 | |||
| 2022–23 | WE League | 18 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 8 | ||
| Total | 72 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 106 | 53 | ||
| North Carolina Courage | 2023 | NWSL | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 72 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 106 | 53 | ||
- ^ Includes Empress's Cup
- ^ Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, NWSL Challenge Cup
- ^ Includes AFC Women's Club Championship
International edit
- As of match played 23 February 2023
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2019 | 12 | 4 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 4 | |
- Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kobayashi goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 3 March 2019 | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States |  Brazil
|
2–1 | 3–1 | 2019 SheBelieves Cup |
| 2. | 4 April 2019 | Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, Auxerre, France |  France
|
1–1 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 3. | 6 October 2019 | IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka, Japan |  Canada
|
4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 11 December 2019 | Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan, South Korea |  Chinese Taipei
|
3–0 | 9–0 | 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
Honours edit
Tokyo Verdy Beleza
- Nadeshiko League: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Empress's Cup: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
- Nadeshiko League Cup: 2016, 2018, 2019
- AFC Women's Club Championship: 2019
Individual
- WE League Outstanding Players Award: 2022–23
References edit
- ^ "順位" [Table]. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ a b "[なでしこ]なでしこL1部MVPは阪口が初受賞!ベストイレブンには優勝した日テレから7人" [(Nadeshiko) Sakaguchi wins Nadeshiko L1 division MVP for the first time! Seven people from Nippon Television who won the best eleven]. Web Gekisaka (in Japanese). 10 November 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "日本勢は7部門で受賞…AFC年間表彰、最優秀ユースプレーヤーに小林里歌子" [Japanese team wins in 7 divisions…AFC Annual Award, Best Youth Player Rikako Kobayashi]. Web Gekisaka (in Japanese). 30 November 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "小林里歌子選手新加入のお知らせ" [Report of new player Rikako Kobayashi] (Press release) (in Japanese). Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Courage sign Japanese midfielder Rikako Kobayashi" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. July 17, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "日テレ東京V小林里歌子、米ノースカロライナ・カレッジへ移籍「ベレーザという場で成長できた」" [Nippon TV Tokyo V. Rikako Kobayashi transferred to North Carolina Courage in the United States: "I was able to grow in Beleza"]. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ "Courage and Rikako Kobayashi agree to mutual contract termination". NC Courage. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Costa Rica: Japan". FIFA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019.
- ^ "Fixtures/Results | 2019 SheBelieves Cup". Japan Football Association. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
External links edit
- Rikako Kobayashi – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Rikako Kobayashi at Soccerway
- Rikako Kobayashi at WorldFootball.net
- Japan Football Association player profile
- WE League player profile
