At the time of his arrival at City, Hidetoshi Nakata was the only Japanese international plying his trade outside the J.League—a rarity that drew significant attention. Naturally, the move was met with a frenzy from both the Japanese and local media.
Even though he had yet to make an official appearance for City, training footage, glimpses from the bench, and even brief interactions were enough to spark conversation among Japanese fans. But Nakata never let the hype distract him. Despite being on the fringes of the main squad, his work ethic never wavered.
And this competition?
It was his chance to prove himself.
Japan stunned the world by defeating tournament favorites Brazil 1–0 in their opening group match at the 1996 Olympics.
Brazil had arrived with a star-studded U-23 squad, boasting names like Rivaldo, Bebeto, Roberto Carlos, and Dida. Yet somehow, the giants were felled by a disciplined and fearless Japanese side.
