Daizen Maeda has dismissed suggestions he could swap football for athletics after his remarkable pace and endurance caught the attention of fans during Japan’s World Cup campaign.
The Celtic forward returned home following Japan’s elimination at the hands of Brazil, having earned widespread praise for his relentless work rate throughout the tournament.
Maeda set a new World Cup record after being credited with 78 sprints in a single match, while his top speed of 22.1mph against Sweden placed him second only to France star Kylian Mbappe, who reached 23.4mph.
During a television appearance in Japan, Maeda was asked whether his speed could see him compete as an athlete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, potentially in middle or long-distance running.
The 28-year-old was quick to play down the idea, saying via The National: “Unfortunately, I think the athletes are at a different level from me, so no.
“But I am humbled at the suggestion!
“I have always been into running and I have been doing it from an early age.
“I didn’t practice at all. I just got better naturally. My stamina is also natural.”
Maeda has previously revealed there was a time when he almost walked away from football altogether after becoming frustrated with his progress in the sport.
Reflecting on that period, he said: “When I was going through my education, I was watching the Olympics and I really enjoyed it.
“Football wasn’t going well for me at that time, so I decided I would quit and do gymnastics instead.
“My aim was always to go to the Olympics and represent Japan in the gymnastics events.
“But I gradually realised my body wasn’t flexible enough to be a gymnast, so from there, I tried to be a sprinter and worked on my speed all the time.
“As I was about to quit football for good, my friends and family brought me back to the game I now love. They encouraged me not to give up and to work harder.
“I actually enjoyed the running part of football rather than the game at first. But then I discovered scoring goals was more fun!”
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