Celtic supporters have spent years explaining why Daizen Maeda offers far more than goals and assists.
FIFA’s tracking data from Japan’s 2-2 World Cup draw with the Netherlands now provides the evidence to back that argument up.
The numbers reveal a player whose movement, pressing and physical output stand out even among elite international footballers. They also show why Maeda remains one of the most valuable players Celtic possess.
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Celtic can see what the Netherlands could not stop
The most striking statistic from FIFA’s tracking data is Maeda’s movement. The Celtic forward made 23 offers to receive the ball, with 17 runs in behind the Dutch defence.
No Japanese player recorded more runs in behind during the match. While Daichi Kamada led Japan for movement in front and Ayase Ueda topped the in-between category, Maeda’s 17 runs beyond the Dutch back line made him the team’s most dangerous outlet against elite opposition.
That matters because defenders cannot ignore those runs. Every sprint forces a back line to retreat, creating space for teammates between the lines.
Japan faced a Netherlands side featuring Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo, yet Maeda still finished as their most aggressive runner beyond the defensive line. That says plenty about the threat his movement posed.
Celtic’s pressing machine outworked stars on both sides
Maeda’s defensive numbers are just as impressive. He produced 38 indirect pressing actions and six direct pressing actions, alongside 33 pushing-on actions and 24 pushing-on-into-pressing actions.
Those figures underline why coaches trust him so heavily. The problem for Maeda’s critics is that goals and assists were never designed to measure what he does best.
Kubo, Doan and Kamada all saw more of the ball than Maeda. None matched his pressing intensity. FIFA’s numbers show he was among Japan’s most active players without possession, which helps explain why coaches trust him so heavily.
The same applies when comparing him with Dutch attackers such as Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen. Their strengths lie in finishing and chance creation. Maeda’s value comes from forcing mistakes before those chances can even develop.
Celtic should appreciate just how rare Maeda’s physical output is
The physical data perhaps tells the clearest story. Maeda covered 8,252 metres, completed 132 high-speed runs, produced 66 sprints and reached a top speed of 33.5 km/h before leaving the pitch after 66 minutes.
Only a handful of players in the match could approach those levels of intensity. Even among Japan’s energetic squad, Maeda’s sprint volume stood out.
Those numbers also explain why Brendan Rodgers previously described the forward’s “frightening” movement. The former Celtic manager repeatedly highlighted qualities that often go unnoticed because they do not appear on a scoresheet.
Maeda still produced 14 league goals, six assists and 2,836 Premiership minutes during the latest campaign.
However, FIFA’s data demonstrates that goals tell only part of the story. Football has plenty of goalscorers. It has far fewer forwards capable of producing this level of movement and defensive intensity.
Celtic supporters have understood that for years. FIFA’s numbers will not change how Maeda plays, but they should change how he is judged. The statistics show a player creating problems long before the ball reaches his feet, which is exactly why he remains one of Celtic’s most important players.
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