Kazuya Konno

They called him "Hosei's Messi" at university, where his dribbling won him the Best Midfielder award at the All Japan University Soccer Championship in his third year. Kazuya Konno carried that reputation into professional football when FC Tokyo signed him in 2020 as a specially designated player straight from Hosei University, after a loan spell with the club's under-23 side in the J3 League the previous year.

A move to Avispa Fukuoka in November 2022 brought a new nickname, "Hakata's Messi," and a step up in influence. He was named the Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP for September 2023, and by then had become a key starter for the club. That autumn he set up the opening goal in the J.League Cup final against Urawa Red Diamonds as Avispa won the trophy, the high point of his time in Fukuoka.

Konno moved to Kawasaki Frontale in January 2026. He has represented Japan at university level, called up to the Japan University National Team for the 2019 Universiade, though a senior cap has not followed.