Keisuke Honda has the world at his feet after helping Japan get off to a winning start in Group E.
Yet only a couple of years ago the 24-year-old forward was playing in front of crowds of just a few thousand in the second tier of Dutch football.
Honda was soon coveted by a number of clubs before moving from VVV-Venlo to CSKA Moscow at the turn of the year after scoring 24 goals in 68 league games.
VVV collected 9million euros in the process, so it is no surprise officials and fans are watching Honda's progress in South Africa with interest.
Honda scored the all-important goal in the 1-0 victory against Cameroon with a cool finish in the 39th minute.
Hai Berden, president of VVV, said: "It is a pity we lost the services of Honda but for a small club like ours it was a fantastic transfer.
"We got the money we looked for. Although the initial sum was a little lower than what we were after, there are some extra bonuses if he does well at CSKA. With this money we can do good things."
Honda's team-mate, former Arsenal and Fulham midfielder Junichi Inamoto was not surprised at the quality of the finish against Cameroon.
Inamoto said: "He was in the right place when the chance fell his way. He has a knack of doing that."
Japan now face Holland on Saturday in confident mood after opening with an unexpected three points.
It was their first win on foreign soil in a World Cup and came after a run of five warm-up matches without a victory with only one goal scored in the process.
However despite one or two scares the Blue Samurai were too well organised for a poor Cameroon side.
Not that coach Takeshi Okada was getting carried away. He immediately focused on the match coming up.
He said: "While we defended well, we need to be more aggressive. We need to go up a level.
"I was tired at the end of the Cameroon game and only thinking of the next one. Holland are now in my thoughts. We have to be proactive."
Cameroon and Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong knows they will have to raise their game against Denmark if they are to stay in the competition.
Bassong was left frustrated by his side's inability to breach the Japan defence.
He said: "We must win our next game. I was not surprised by Japan. I knew they would be a tough team, who would counter-attack.
"I am more disappointed about our game. It is always hard when you lose your first game and we will try to improve. That is vital if we are to get through the group."