February 22, 2026 marked a historic moment for Indonesian football. Maarten Paes officially made his debut for Dutch powerhouse AFC Ajax, stepping straight into the spotlight in one of Europe’s most demanding environments.
The Indonesian international, who played a key role for Indonesia national team during the third and fourth rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, was handed a starting XI and completed the full 90 minutes against NEC Nijmegen.
Paes only recently joined Ajax on February 2, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract that runs until June 30, 2029. Yet he wasted no time breaking into the starting XI. His opportunity came following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Vítězslav Jaroš, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. With that, Paes has been entrusted as Ajax’s man between the posts.
And what a statement he made.
The 90-minute display saw Paes register seven crucial saves, repeatedly keeping Ajax in the contest. The only goal conceded came via an unfortunate defensive deflection that wrong-footed him, leaving little chance to react. Despite that setback, Paes emerged as one of Ajax’s highest-rated player on the night.
His contribution went beyond shot-stopping. Comfortable with the ball at his feet a prerequisite in Ajax’s system, Paes completed 27 passes and recorded 61 touches, actively involved in building play from the back.
While the match did not end in victory, it was a debut full of authority, composure, and presence. For Indonesian football, this was more than just another appearance, it was a breakthrough moment on one of Europe’s grandest stages.
