Photo/Illutration Takuma Asano celebrates Japan’s victory against Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 23. (Shinnosuke Ito)

For more than four years, Takuma Asano thought about this very moment.

When it appeared before him, the Japanese national team forward made the most of the opportunity. 

Running at top speed, Asano beat the world’s top goalie, Germany’s Manuel Neuer, for the winning goal in the 38th minute in the second half at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 23 in Qatar.

“I was determined to strike if I had the chance,” said Asano, 28, who came off the bench in the 12th minute of the second half.

The forward was on the candidate list for the Japanese team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia until the very last moment.

He was the hero who scored the goal that helped Japan qualify for the World Cup.

But his name was not on the final selection list for the Samurai Blue.

“From that moment forward, I envisioned this day. And I couldn’t think of anything but me standing as a hero,” Asano said on Nov. 23, looking back on the past four and a half years. 

Japan skipper Hajime Moriyasu has placed trust in Asano since the early days of his career.

Asano graduated from high school and joined the Hiroshima Sanfrecce of the J.League in 2013, where Moriyasu was the head coach.

But some cynical fans poked fun at their relationship and said he joined the team “on recommendation.”

In September this year, Asano, who plays for Bundesliga’s VfL Bochum, injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

When Moriyasu announced his 26-men squad for the World Cup in early November, he was still rehabilitating the injury.

On social media, many commented that Asano was not good enough and should withdraw himself from the squad.

“I’m glad that I ignored these comments, because I knew there are people who believe in me,” Asano said after Japan’s dramatic 2-1 upset of Germany.

“As far as today’s game goes, I think I could become a hero. In the past four years, on every single day, I’ve imagined a day like this. And that led to this outcome.”

But Asano, who has gone through the highs and lows in his career, said, “The moment you become a hero will be over in the blink of an eye.”

His World Cup dream has only just begun.

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