Who is Daizen Maeda? Japan attacker who scored vs Sweden at FIFA World Cup 2026

Daizen Maeda scored his first goal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Sweden.

Sweden played their last group stage game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Japan at the Dallas Stadium. The match was crucial for both teams. It decides their rivals in the knockout stage of the ongoing summer competition.

After a busy first half in which both sides had their high and low moments, the game witnessed some goalscoring action in the second half.

In the 56th minute, the deadlock was broken by Japan‘s Daizen Maeda. Maeda’s goal could easily be called one of the best open-play goals of the final set of group stage games. A great pass from Ritsu Doan reached Maeda, who netted the goal perfectly.

Also read: Who is Hazem Mastouri? Tunisia’s goalscorer vs Netherlands in FIFA World Cup 2026

Daizen Maeda profile

• Age: 28
• Position: Left Winger
• Club: Celtic

Daizen Maeda was born on October 20, 1997, in Taishi, Osaka, Japan. During his formative years, he played for the academy teams of Taishi JSC and Kawakamo FC before finally commencing his senior career in 2016 with Matsumoto Yamaga.

His time at Matsumoto Yamaga did not go well. He was sent on loan to Mito Hollyhock, Maritimo, and Yokohama F. Marinos across different seasons until 2020. In 2022, he joined Scottish giants Celtic on a loan deal from Yokohama F. Marinos.

After a decent loan season, he was signed by Celtic on a five-year deal. During his time at the Scottish side, the 28-year-old has made 212 appearances across all competitions, scoring 79 goals and providing 38 assists. He’s currently a key player for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League and in their European campaigns.

Taking a look at his international career, the Japanese forward made his debut for the Samurai Blue in May 2019. Since then, he has earned 29 caps for the national team, scoring five goals.

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