Gamba Osaka captain Yasuhito Endo and Yokohama F. Marinos’s Yuji Nakazawa became the fourth and fifth players to make 500 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances on Saturday.

Both veterans were crucial when they started in their team’s wins on matchday 14 of the second stage, with Endo delivering the free-kick that led to Gamba’s winner against Urawa Reds.

Meanwhile, 37-year-old centre-back Nakazawa was present throughout in F.Marinos 2-1 comeback against 10-man Vissel Kobe.

The pair are now in the illustrious company of Nobuhisa Yamada (501 games), Teruyoshi Ito (517 games) and Seigo Narazaki (600 games) as those who have achieved 500 appearances in Japan’s top flight.