Mina Tanaka

Mina Tanaka (田中 美南) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals and the Japan women's national team. She has previously played for Nippon TV Beleza, Bayer Leverkusen, and INAC Kobe Leonessa.

Early life
Tanaka was born in Thailand on April 28, 1994 to a Japanese father and a Thai mother. She returned to Japan soon after her birth and grew up in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa. She graduated from Kanagawa Prefectural Yurigaoka High School in March 2013.

Club career
On May 3, 2011, she made her debut for Nippon TV Beleza in a 1–0 loss to Okayama Yunogo Belle. On August 14, she scored her first goal in a 5–0 home victory against Fukuoka J. Anclas. She became top scorer in 2016 and 2017. She was also selected Best Eleven for 3 years in a row (2015–2017).

In 2020, Tanaka signed for INAC Kobe Leonessa. After the season was delayed by two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanaka made her club debut in the season opener on July 18. She scored the only goal of the match. On 3 February 2020, she joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season

On July 5, 2024, NWSL club Utah Royals signed Tanaka to a contract through the 2025 NWSL season.

National team career
Tanaka was part of the Japan U-17 national team that finished in second place at the 2010 U-17 World Cup and of the U-20 team that finished in third place at the 2012 U-20 World Cup. In February 2013, she received her first senior team call-up. On March 8, she made her debut for Japan and scored her first goal in a 2–1 loss to Germany in the 2013 Algarve Cup. In 2018, she played at 2018 Asian Cup and Japan won the championship. She played 35 games and scored 14 goals for Japan.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in Japan's 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. On July 31, Tanaka scored in Japan's 4-0 group-stage victory in a match against Spain.

Club
.

International

 * Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tanaka goal.

Honours
Nippon TV Beleza
 * Nadeshiko League: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
 * Empress's Cup: 2014, 2017, 2018
 * Nadeshiko League Cup: 2012, 2016, 2018
 * AFC Women's Club Championship: 2019

INAC Kobe Leonessa
 * WE League: 2021-22

Individual
 * Nadeshiko League Top Scorer: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
 * Nadeshiko League Best XI: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
 * Nadeshiko League Best Player Award (MVP): 2018, 2019