Nakata is a valuable member of the Japan squad due to his versatility, as he is able to play either in defence or in attack. A serious knee injury almost ended his career a few years ago, while more recently he has fought his way back into contention after a disastrous stint at French side Marseille. He was a consistent performer with Kashima Antlers before deciding to try his luck in Europe, but needed a January transfer window move to Basel to turn his fortunes around. The 26-year-old made his international debut in February 2000 against Mexico and has passed the 50-cap mark for his country.