【Player Profile #25】Maeda Daizen | The Sprint Monster Who Powered Celtic, the Evolution of the W Cup Joker Who Kept Running in Doha
A deep dive into Maeda Daizen (28, from Taishi-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka), a key player at Scottish giants Celtic. The driving force behind Japan's upset over Germany at the Qatar World Cup, he logged 62 sprints against Spain and scored the opening goal against Croatia — a high-press specialist who left his mark on the tournament.
Daizen Maeda, 28 years old. With Celtic, one of Scotland's most storied clubs, he has amassed 45 goals in 145 appearances. In the 2024/25 season he reached a career high of 33 goals in 49 official matches, earning the Scottish Premiership MVP award. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup he recorded 62 sprints against Spain and scored the opening goal against Croatia in the 43rd minute — a high-press striker who set Doha alight. With WC 2026 now roughly two months away, we take stock of the expectations he carries and the challenges he must overcome.
menu_book Basic Profile
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 20 October 1997 (age 28) |
| Birthplace | Taishi-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture |
| Height / Weight | 173 cm / 67 kg |
| Position | FW (CF / Left Winger); Left Wing-Back as required |
| Dominant Foot | Right |
| Club | Celtic FC (Scottish Premiership) |
| Jersey Number | Club: 38 / National Team: 11 |
| International Experience | Senior debut in 2019; 27 caps, 4 goals. Scored the opening goal vs. Croatia at the 2022 Qatar World Cup |
arrow_forward Getting to Know His Hometown
Taishi-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture is a town of around 13,000 people, characterised by ancient burial mounds associated with Prince Shotoku and lush satoyama countryside. While it has developed as a bedroom community for central Osaka, it retains a natural environment where children can run freely and without restraint. It was here that Maeda built the physical foundation for his relentless running.
Born to a veterinarian father and a mother who runs an animal clinic, he moved from Hori City to Taishi-cho in his fourth year of primary school and took up football. During his middle-school years he played for a prominent local club, "Kawakami FC" (which has produced 13 J.League players). Although the southern Osaka area is a fiercely competitive breeding ground networked by Cerezo Osaka's academy, Maeda chose an unconventional path — from a town club to a solo cross-prefecture move to Yamanashi Gakuin High School — rather than joining an academy set-up. The audacity to take a road less travelled and the stamina to keep running are inseparable from the rugged, free-range development culture of Taishi-cho. His performance at the World Cup finals will be a source of immense pride for the town.
calendar_month Career Timeline by Age
| Age | Period | Club / Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 9 | Up to 2007 | Childhood in Hori City; moved to Taishi-cho in Year 4 of primary school and started playing football |
| 13–15 | 2010–2012 | Prominent local club "Kawakami FC" (produced 13 J.League players) |
| 16–18 | 2013–2015 | Solo cross-prefecture enrolment at Yamanashi Gakuin University Senior High School. Suspended from the football club for approximately one year in Year 1 for a breach of discipline → reinstated; top scorer in the Prince League Kanto in Year 3 (12 goals) |
| 18–22 | 2016–2020 | Matsumoto Yamaga FC (J1 / J2). 56 appearances, 9 goals |
| 20 | 2017 | Mito HollyHock (loan) |
| 22–23 | 2019–2020 | C.S. Marítimo (Portugal, loan). 23 appearances, 3 goals |
| 22–23 | 2020 | Yokohama F. Marinos (loan → permanent transfer) |
| 23 | 2021 | Yokohama FM. J1 League top scorer: 23 goals in 36 matches |
| 24– | January 2022–present | Celtic FC (initial loan → permanent transfer). 145 appearances, 45 goals |
local_fire_department 2025/26 Season — Rising Above the Hangover After a Career-High MVP Campaign
Following his career-high 2024/25 season (33 goals in 49 official matches, Scottish Premiership MVP), Maeda sought a transfer during the August 2025 window but was retained after the club failed to secure a replacement. Form dipped in September–October with just 2 goals, but over the course of the season he has demonstrated his standing as a key player, posting 7 goals and 5 assists in 22 Premiership matches in 2025/26, and 9 goals in 32 official appearances overall.
| Season | Official Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 21/22 (second half) | 25 | 5 |
| 22/23 | 49 | 11 |
| 23/24 | 50 | 8 |
| 24/25 | 49 | 33 |
| 25/26 (ongoing) | 32 | 9 |
sports_soccer International Career — The Sprinter Behind the Germany Upset and the Croatia Opener
Maeda made his senior international debut on 17 June 2019 against Chile. He has since accumulated 27 caps and 4 goals.
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he started as the lone striker against Germany but was substituted after 7 minutes. Against Spain he recorded 62 sprints in 62 minutes, playing a key role as a "defensive CF" in the victories over Germany and Spain. He then started as the lone striker against Croatia, scoring the opening goal in the 43rd minute and registering 68 sprints in 64 minutes — a figure that nearly matched Luka Modrić's Croatia teammate Ivan Perišić, who recorded 71 sprints over 105 minutes.
Maeda has described his own playing style as "not a Ferrari but a Prius — quietly and efficiently closing down the opposition." His role in Hajime Moriyasu's Japan is clearly defined: a speed-based, high-press option.
star Daizen Maeda in a Nutshell — "Sprint Monster" Meets "Indefatigable Hard Worker"
Two key phrases are essential to understanding Maeda.
| Keyword | How It Manifests in Play |
|---|---|
| Sprint Monster | Maintaining 5.8-second 50 m acceleration deep into matches / 60–70+ sprints per game / razor-sharp runs in behind on long counters |
| Indefatigable Hard Worker | Relentless high press, tracking back all the way to the opposition CB and GK / rapid recovery runs that cover even the left back's build-up play / a self-sacrificing attitude that places collective contribution ahead of personal statistics |
The significance of combining both qualities is clear — making "running to score" and "running to prevent goals" work simultaneously. Once the knockout rounds begin, a player capable of changing a match through sheer speed and stamina alone is an irreplaceable option for Moriyasu's Japan.
favorite The Expectations He Carries at WC 2026 — The Key to Japan Breaking Out of Group F
Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Maeda is expected to serve as a joker-type impact substitute capable of playing both as a lone striker and left wing-back, changing the game with his speed and high press.
| Opponent | Key Defensive Characteristics | Expected Role for Maeda |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | CB pairing including De Ligt, operating with a high defensive line | Counter-attack option to exploit space in behind with pace; tire out ageing centre-backs through relentless pressing |
| Sweden | Defensive setup supporting a tall two-striker partnership of Isak and Gyökeres | Avoid the tall central presence; target the space in behind on the left flank. Disrupt the opposition's build-up from the front |
| Tunisia | African side that defends deep | Breaking down a deep defensive block is a weak point for Maeda; expected to be introduced from the bench to exploit any space that opens up |
live_tv Social Media & Media Presence
Maeda's communication style is understated and matter-of-fact. His Instagram account, @m_daizen0827 open_in_new, is updated diligently with on- and off-pitch moments from both club and international duty. He also remains active on X.
His media persona is defined by a no-frills, "I'll just do what I do" straightforwardness. He has mentioned that his trademark knee-slide goal celebration was influenced by his eldest son, born in 2021 — a glimpse of the family man behind the footballer. He is the quietly relentless type, a world apart from the flashy champion archetype.
info The Challenge Ahead — "Clinical Finishing at International Level"
Clinical finishing at international level — this, more than anything, remains Maeda's greatest challenge. He has consistently registered double-figure goals for his club over recent seasons, yet his international record of 4 goals in 27 caps lags well behind his club output.
The sluggish start to the 2025/26 season and the psychological and physical impact of being retained against his wishes after the failed transfer are also factors that cannot be overlooked. He has secured his own niche as a "mobility-based" striker distinct from out-and-out finishers like Ayase Ueda and Koki Ogawa, but whether he can demonstrate that added value in as many matches as possible on the biggest stage is the ultimate mission entrusted to him.