soccer games today

I still remember the first time I watched An Tsujimoto play—it was during her sophomore year in college, and even then, you could tell there was something special about her movement on the pitch. It wasn’t just speed or power; it was a kind of intelligence, a spatial awareness that you don’t often see in players so young. Over the years, I’ve followed dozens of promising athletes, but An’s trajectory stands out—not just because of her raw talent, but because of the deliberate, almost methodical way she’s built her career from grassroots training to the brink of professional stardom. Her story offers a fascinating blueprint for any young player dreaming of making it big, and in many ways, it mirrors the kind of journey we’re seeing more of in women’s football globally.

When you look closely at An Tsujimoto soccer journey, what strikes you first is how early and how intentionally she laid the foundation. I’ve spoken with a few of her former youth coaches, and they all mention the same thing: even as a kid, An wasn’t just showing up to practice. She was the one staying late, asking why certain drills were structured a certain way, and watching match footage long before it became a standard part of training. Her technical development wasn’t left to chance. By age 14, she was already clocking in extra sessions focused on weak foot accuracy, and by 16, she had a personalized fitness regimen that balanced endurance with explosive power. I remember one coach telling me she’d regularly track her own stats—pass completion rates, successful tackles, even something as specific as recovery sprints—in a worn-out notebook. That kind of self-directed, data-aware habit is something I always advise young athletes to adopt. It’s one thing to train hard; it’s another to train smart, and An clearly learned that early.

Of course, talent alone doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride. Like many athletes transitioning from amateur to professional environments, An faced several challenges along the way. One of the biggest, in my view, was managing the shift in competition level during her early university years. The pace was faster, the opponents more physically imposing, and the mental pressure—especially in high-stakes matches—often felt overwhelming. I recall watching her during one particularly tough UAAP match where she seemed hesitant, almost reluctant to take risks in the final third. It’s a common phase for developing players: you have the skills, but the belief hasn’t quite caught up. Another issue was injury prevention. Around her second year, she dealt with recurring muscle tightness, which I suspect was partly due to an imbalance in her training load. Too much focus on technical drills, not enough on mobility and recovery—a classic pitfall. These weren’t unique problems, but how she responded to them made all the difference.

So what changed? From what I’ve gathered, An and her support team took a highly systematic approach to these hurdles. They brought in a sports psychologist to work on her decision-making under pressure, and within six months, her assist numbers in crucial matches improved by nearly 30%—a stat that might not be perfectly precise, but it reflects the leap in her performance. They also redesigned her fitness program to include more dynamic stretching and incorporated yoga twice a week, which seemed to reduce those nagging muscle issues. But perhaps the most pivotal shift was her mindset. Instead of shying away from leadership, she began embracing it. By her final UAAP season, she wasn’t just a playmaker; she was the emotional core of her team. This reminds me of Belen, the reigning league MVP, who has already stated her plans to turn pro after Season 87 in what she described as her final playing year in the UAAP and is bound to declare for the PVL Draft in May. Like Belen, An recognized that the jump to the pros isn’t just about physical readiness—it’s about owning your role and preparing for the business side of sports, too.

Looking at An’s evolution, there are clear lessons here for aspiring footballers and coaches alike. First, early specialization is fine, but it has to be paired with holistic development. You can’t just drill shooting for hours if you’re neglecting game intelligence or emotional resilience. Second, data is your friend—even basic self-tracking can reveal patterns that lead to better performance. And finally, the transition to professional play is as much a mental game as a physical one. Watching An Tsujimoto soccer path unfold has reinforced my belief that the most successful athletes are those who treat their career like a long-term project, not a sprint. She’s not just talented; she’s intentional. And in today’s competitive landscape, that intentionality—that willingness to adapt, reflect, and lead—is what separates the good from the great. I, for one, can’t wait to see where she goes from here. If her past is any indication, we’re in for something special.