Maarten Paes

2.1. NEC

Paes joined the youth system of NEC in 2012 and was formally promoted to the senior team for the 2017-18 season. During this period, he served as a backup goalkeeper to Joris Delle but did not make any appearances for the first team.

2.2. Utrecht

In 2018, Paes had the opportunity to join FC Utrecht, signing a three-year contract on April 4, 2018, with an option for a fourth year. He initially served as a reserve goalkeeper behind David Jensen and Nick Marsman. His Eredivisie debut for the club occurred on August 19, 2018, in a 2-0 home victory against PEC Zwolle. This appearance was facilitated by Jensen's illness and Marsman's injury, and it remained his sole first-team match during the 2018-19 season, although he played several games for Jong FC Utrecht during that campaign.

At the beginning of the 2019-20 season, Paes surprisingly became FC Utrecht's first-choice goalkeeper, starting and playing full matches until the 18th round. Recognizing his strong performances, the club extended his contract until 2023 on December 13. However, his tenure as a consistent starter was interrupted during the winter break when he suffered a severe shoulder blade injury in January, which required approximately six months of recuperation and ruled him out for the remainder of the 2019-20 season. As a result, FC Utrecht opted to loan Jeroen Zoet from PSV for six months during the winter transfer window, as Zoet had lost his starting spot at PSV to Lars Unnerstall.

The 2020-21 season presented a challenging period for FC Utrecht's goalkeeping position. Paes initially started as the first-choice goalkeeper but was later replaced by Thijmen Nijhuis after a few games. Following the departure of manager John van den Brom, Paes briefly returned to the starting lineup. Ultimately, Eric Oelschlägel made the most appearances in goal for Utrecht that season. For the 2021-22 season, Paes was sidelined from the starting lineup, with Fabian de Keijzer taking over the primary role during the winter. An injury to de Keijzer in early May, however, allowed Oelschlägel to return to the field, making him one of three goalkeepers to feature for Utrecht that season.

2.3. FC Dallas

On January 20, 2022, Paes moved to the MLS side FC Dallas on a six-month loan agreement. His performance during this period led Dallas to exercise their option to make the transfer permanent on June 24, 2022. As a key player for FC Dallas, Paes has delivered notable performances, including in matches where he played against prominent teams like Inter Miami CF, which featured star players such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez. His consistent role and strong displays have solidified his position as a prominent goalkeeper in the league.

3.1. Netherlands youth national teams

Paes was a part of the Netherlands under-19 squads for both the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. During these tournaments, he served as a backup goalkeeper to Yanick van Osch and Justin Bijlow, respectively, and did not appear in any games. He also represented the Netherlands U-20 team in two matches in 2018 and the Netherlands U-21 team in five matches between 2019 and 2021.

3.2. Indonesia national team

In January 2024, Paes publicly confirmed his decision to represent Indonesia at the international level. His eligibility stemmed from his maternal grandmother, who was born in Kediri, Dutch East Indies. On April 30, 2024, he officially obtained Indonesian citizenship through naturalization. However, his path to playing for the Indonesia national football team faced challenges due to FIFA regulations. Having represented the Netherlands U-21s at the age of 22 in competitive matches, he initially encountered a FIFA rule that typically prevents a player who has appeared for a national team at a competitive level over the age of 21 from changing their national team. After a lengthy process, Erick Thohir, the chairman of the PSSI, announced on August 18, 2024, that FIFA had officially approved the change of his sports citizenship from Dutch to Indonesian, thereby making him eligible to play for the Indonesia national team.

In September 2024, Paes received his first call-up for Indonesia's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He made his highly anticipated debut on September 5, 2024, in a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia. During this match, Paes committed a foul inside the penalty box but notably saved the ensuing penalty kick taken by Salem Al-Dawsari, a crucial intervention that led to him being named the Man of the Match. In Indonesia's subsequent match on September 10, 2024, against Australia, Paes continued his strong form by keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

5.1. Club

5.2. International