Japan national team forward Daizen Maeda delivered a breathtaking goal that has left local media in awe.
Celtic hosted arch-rivals Rangers at home on May 10 in the Scottish Premiership’s 36th matchday, securing a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory. Maeda, who had scored in three consecutive official matches, netted twice—but his 57th-minute strike was nothing short of spectacular.
Picking up a loose ball from a teammate’s cross inside the box, Maeda executed a stunning bicycle kick while facing away from goal. The looping effort sailed into the top right corner, sending the stadium into euphoria.
Celtic-focused outlet *The Celtic Way* dedicated extensive coverage to the goal, writing: “Celtic now stand on the brink of something unforgettable.” They hailed Maeda’s strike as “a shot that seemed to descend from the heavens.”
The media outlet further praised it as “already being talked about as one of the greatest goals this century that many have actually witnessed.” Drawing comparisons to legendary moments in club history, they emphasized its significance:
“Henrik Larsson in 2000, Shunsuke Nakamura in 2008, Tom Rogic in 2017—only a handful of Celtic goals have achieved mythical status over the past 26 years, and Maeda’s is set to join them. If Celtic go on to win the league title this season, Maeda’s looping overhead kick will be recalled for years, even decades, as one of those iconic moments that stir the hearts of every fan.”
The stunning bicycle kick against their fiercest rivals could very well become a new legendary strike in Celtic’s storied history.