KEISUKE HONDA has become the highest scoring Asian player in World Cup history with his fourth goal in the competition coming in a 2-2 draw against Senegal on Sunday.

The Japan star, who currently plays for Liga MX side Pachuca at the club level, has now scored in three separate World Cups for his country.

The 32-year-old netted twice at the 2010 World Cup in a breakout performance, with the goals coming in wins over Denmark and Cameroon, helping his side to the round of 16.

He followed that with a single goal in 2014, though that effort came in a loss to Ivory Coast as Japan were dumped out in the group stage.

Sunday’s strike may prove vital for Japan’s hope at the 2018 World Cup.

Entering the day the Asian side was joint-top of the group alongside Senegal, but found themselves trailing after Moussa Wague’s 71st minute strike.

But Honda, who entered the match in the 72nd to replace Shinji Kagawa, was on hand to slam home a chance in the 78th, pulling his team level at 2-2 and keeping them joint-top of the group.

Wague’s strike also represented an historic moment.

At just 19 years and 263 days old, he became the youngest African goalscorer in World Cup history.

He beat the record set by Draman Haminu, who, at 20 years and 82 days old, scored for Ghana against the United States in 2006.

With Poland and Colombia playing later Sunday, what Japan will need to progress to the knockout rounds is not yet known, with the Asian side closing out its group stage with a clash against Poland on Thursday.

(SD-Agencies)