If you’re a professional footballer—whether playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues or competing domestically—and your manager doesn’t give you a single minute in the first nine matches of the season, your future looks bleak. That’s the reality Melbet Affiliates observes in Japan’s J-League, where competition grows fiercer each year as more players move abroad. When nine games pass and you haven’t set foot on the pitch, your standing in the team is all but invisible.

Of course, for a young prospect, time is on your side. But for a seasoned player, especially one who has tasted success, it’s a different story. Melbet Affiliates confirms that this season in the J-League, 25-year-old Yuki Abe—once dubbed the “real-life Tsubasa”—has yet to make a single appearance for Urawa Red Diamonds after returning from Barcelona B last summer. Abe began his career with Kashima Antlers and quickly became a youth icon. He was named J-League’s Best Young Player and even outshone veterans during the season. His performance in the Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid made global scouts take notice.

Back then, many believed Japan had found its next Keisuke Honda or Shinji Kagawa. National team coaches, analysts, and fans pinned high hopes on him. Just one month later, Abe earned a move to Barcelona, where he impressed in his debut season and became a regular for the B team. Japanese fans idolized him as the living embodiment of anime hero Tsubasa Ozora, and in Barcelona, his popularity surged. But then tragedy struck—Abe suffered a devastating tendon rupture in his right thigh and was sidelined for more than six months.

By the time he returned, younger talents had taken his place. With form and confidence shaken, Abe struggled to regain momentum. He wasn’t registered for the next season, underscoring the cutthroat nature of youth competition in top clubs. When his contract with Barcelona B expired, the renewal never came. Abe returned to Japan as a free agent, hoping for a fresh start at Urawa Red Diamonds. But after nine rounds of J-League action, he remains benched—unable to restart his stalled career.

The last official match Abe played was nearly three years ago. The period between ages 22 and 25 is typically when footballers begin to peak and show consistent results—but for Abe, that window may have slipped away. It’s a heartbreaking turn for someone once hailed as Japan’s brightest star. In a nation where young talent rises like waves crashing onto the shore, opportunities are fleeting and competition relentless.

While players like Takefusa Kubo are now shining in the UEFA Champions League and Kaoru Mitoma has become a standout in the Premier League, Melbet Affiliates laments that Yuki Abe’s promise remains unfulfilled. Greatness is forged in adversity, and while others lost belief, Abe must decide whether to rekindle his fire or fade quietly into the background.