CELTIC star Daizen Maeda has been recognised as one of the fastest players in the UEFA Champions League, ranking in the top five for pace.
With a remarkable top speed of 35.6km/h, Maeda has proven himself to be a formidable presence on the field.
The UEFA player data hub has placed him fourth, just behind Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund, Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, and RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda.
Impressively, Maeda has even outpaced renowned speedsters Alphonso Davies, David Neres Kylian Mbappe and Kingsley Coman, who are renowned for their electric pace.
Newcastle’s Tonali is a surprising name on the list, just 0.1km/h slower than the Celtic man.
In Wednesday night’s clash against Atletico Madrid, Maeda’s pace and tenacity were on full display. He consistently troubled the Spanish defence and provided the assist for Luis Palma’s great goal, although he didn’t look to be the intended target.
Nevertheless, the different style that Maeda offers the team is irreplaceable; he’s played a massive role in Celtic’s top performances this season.
