Paes Shifts Focus from Stardom to Team Success
In a sport obsessed with individual stardom, Paes is moving in the opposite direction.
Years in the Eredivisie and MLS have hardened him, but they have also stripped away the noise. The goalkeeper speaks now like a player who has seen enough of football’s swings to know what truly matters.
“Everything that has happened in my career has happened for a reason. I've grown and matured a lot because of it,” he told FIFA, reflecting on a journey that has taken him from domestic leagues to the international stage.
That growth shows most clearly in how he talks about himself. Or rather, how little he wants to.
“My ego isn't that important any more. I just want to contribute as much as possible to the team. My main goal is to win, both with the national team and at club level,” he said.
For Paes, the individual narrative is over. The collective story is the only one worth telling.
He sees the upcoming FIFA-backed tournament through that same lens. Not as a showcase for his own form, but as a catalyst for a region.
“It's a positive development, not just for Indonesia but for every participating country. It will raise the level of Southeast Asian football,” he explained, framing the competition as a stepping stone rather than a standalone prize.
Day to day, his standards are set in an elite environment. Working at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Paes sharpens his mentality alongside Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen, a daily reminder of what the very top looks like and what it demands.
On the international scene, the bar is raised again. Under head coach John Herdman, Paes is locked in a demanding but respectful fight for the No.1 shirt with Emil Audero. It is not a feud. It is fuel.
“The better the competition you face, the more it pushes you to become the best version of yourself,” he said, embracing the challenge rather than shying away from it.
Any hint of personal rivalry is quickly dismissed. For him, the badge comes first, and stays there.
“The older I get, the more important it is to me that Garuda win - not me or Emil,” he insisted, drawing a clear line between personal ambition and national ambition.
His vision is crystal clear: trophies, not headlines.
“For me, the goal is to win the trophy. I'd love to lift the title in front of our own supporters and repay them for all the support they've given us over the past few years,” Paes said, picturing a home crowd finally rewarded for its patience and passion.
This tournament is not the destination in his mind. It is the launchpad.
“The first goal is to win the trophy here and build a really positive feeling going into the Asian Cup,” he concluded.
For Paes, the next save, the next match, the next cup – they all point in the same direction: a Garuda side that no longer just competes in Asia, but truly believes it can conquer it.
