• An inspirational figure for Borussia Dortmund in their 2011/12 Bundesliga success, scoring 13 league goals, nine of them in the second half of the campaign.

• Scored the opening goal in the German Cup final, his third-minute strike sending Dortmund on their way to a memorable 5-2 win against FC Bayern München in Berlin that completed the club's first domestic double.

• Left Dortmund in the summer for Manchester United FC, becoming the first Japanese player to sign for the Old Trafford club; scored on his Premier League home debut against Fulham FC and also found the net for Japan with the only goal of the game in an October friendly triumph over France.