Ayase Ueda scored twice for Japan against Tunisia on Saturday, June 20, and the Ueda player in Japan did it with the same calm that has marked his season. The 27-year-old entered the World Cup as the Eredivisie’s leading scorer, then backed that standing with two more goals in Monterrey, Mexico.
Ueda has 25 goals, and the numbers explain why his finishing has drawn attention well beyond this match. He turned both chances into goals and left the celebration to a brief pause rather than a performance.
Ueda in Monterrey
His response after scoring did not change. Ueda has not choreographed dances, shouted at the crowd, or jumped into the arms of fans after finding the net. Against Tunisia, his celebration stayed calm and simple, matching the style he has already made his own.
“It’s my style, my modesty,” he said in an interview with Algemeen Dagblad.
Family Behind Japan Goals
Ueda tied his scoring to the people who helped him reach this level. “When I’ve scored, I hear the fans and their joy. I let that sink in. I also think of my wife who has always supported me,” he said.
He added, “My family in Japan too,” and, “That I am here now thanks to them.” Ueda also said, “I am very happy when I score, but I especially like that I can make others happy.”
Mito Roots, Eredivisie Form
Born in Mito, Iribaki, Japan, Ueda has built this run around the same discipline he shows after goals. His father inspired him to play, and his family sacrificed to help him chase his dreams.
That combination of production and restraint is the point. He arrived at the World Cup as the Eredivisie’s leading scorer, scored twice for Japan on Saturday, and kept the focus on the people around him rather than on himself.
