Daizen Maeda acknowledged that Japan's 2-1 loss to Brazil in the World Cup last-32 made him realize he "can't stay at my current level," as the Celtic forward looks to push his career forward after the tournament disappointment.
Maeda, 28, was reportedly the subject of a late-summer transfer bid from Wolfsburg that fell through, according to Sky Sports. "I personally feel that I need to keep improving and take another step forward," he was quoted as saying after the defeat.
The forward's introspection comes amid a broader reckoning for Asian teams at the tournament. Japan's exit follows South Korea's campaign, which drew harsh criticism from the country's president and led to the resignation of coach Hong Myung-bo.
Son Heung-min, whose Instagram post expressed being "indescribably hurt" by the loss, vowed to "win the hearts" of fans after the team's performances. Both players now face pivotal decisions about their international futures as a new cycle begins.
While Maeda's focus remains on self-improvement, some analysts question whether individual development alone can close the gap with top-tier nations like Brazil. Critically, Japan lacked the finishing edge in key moments—a pattern that could persist without systemic changes.