Virgil van Dijk made the ultimate gesture to Wataru Endo, showcasing just how dedicated the Liverpool captain is to leadership. The Dutch defender handed the armband to his Japanese teammate during a preseason tour of Japan last year, but the pair have been denied a reunion at this summer's World Cup.
Endo's Injury and Retirement
Endo has been forced to withdraw from Japan's World Cup squad due to a broken foot and has subsequently retired from international football. "Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever," he said. "From here on, I'll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans."
The Netherlands, captained by Van Dijk, face Japan in their opening World Cup game this weekend. It comes a year after the Dutchman showed the utmost respect to his club teammate during a preseason tour of Endo's home country.
Preseason Gesture in Japan
Liverpool traveled to Japan to face Yokohama F Marinos and won 3-1. One of the main headlines was Endo replacing Van Dijk in the second half and receiving the captain's armband. The midfielder revealed he had a trial with Yokohama as a youngster but didn't join, making the moment full-circle as he led Liverpool to victory.
The 33-year-old said at the time: "I supported this club actually and I went to a trial but I couldn't join this club. Now I came back here as a player of Liverpool. It was a dream-come-true moment." Regarding Van Dijk's gesture, Endo added: "I think it was a great gesture. I think all Japanese people maybe wanted me to be captain."
Endo's World Cup Hopes Dashed
Van Dijk will be disappointed not to face Endo on Sunday as the Dutch take on Japan in a Group F clash. Endo sustained a broken left foot and a ruptured ligament against Sunderland in February and didn't play again during the run-in. He was named in Japan's World Cup squad and managed 45 minutes in a friendly against Iceland, but was subbed off due to discomfort. He has been replaced by Borussia Monchengladbach's Shuto Machino.
Liverpool announced Endo's withdrawal: "Wataru Endo has withdrawn from Japan's World Cup squad due to injury, and announced his retirement from international football. Keep your head up, Wata."
Endo's International Career
Endo earned 73 caps for Japan since his debut in 2015 and caught Liverpool's eye at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He moved to Anfield just over six months later and has won the Premier League and Carabao Cup. With a year left on his Liverpool deal, the 33-year-old has become a fan favorite for his versatility across the pitch.
