Manaka Matsukubo

Manaka Matsukubo (松窪 真心) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She plays internationally for Japan women's national under-20 football team and was an integral part of the team that made the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final.

Mynavi Sendai
Matsukubo made her professional debut for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season. She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.

North Carolina Courage
On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024. She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023. With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest to score. In the Challenge Cup final against Racing Louisville, she was named the most valuable player of the match after scoring the Courage's second goal with a chip volley in the 2–0 victory.

Matsukubo scored her first regular-season goal the next week in a 2–1 loss to the Orlando Pride. In the Courage's last regular-season game, Matsukubo crossed to Tyler Lussi for a goal to help the Courage defeat the Washington Spirit 1–0 and clinch their spot in the playoffs.

On 27 June 2024, Matsukubo was signed by the Courage permanently through 2025.

International career
Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022. She was called up to play for the U-20 Japan Women's National Team for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in 2024, but she left early to return to her club.

Honours
JFA Academy Fukushima


 * Nadeshiko Challenge League: 2020
 * Nadeshiko League 2: 2021

North Carolina Courage


 * NWSL Challenge Cup: 2023

Individual


 * WE League Outstanding Player Award: 2022–23