Max Caputo is one of the most exciting talents in the Isuzu UTE A-League. aleagues.com.au looks at the numbers behind the Melbourne City sensation.
The movement, pace, composure and finish. Max Caputo’s goal in Round 1 had all the hallmarks of an Aussie talent coming into his own this season.
It was only in May that the 20-year-old was named among the top 25 Under-20 players worldwide in a list shared by the CIES Football Observatory.
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Caputo is Melbourne City’s new main man; a spearhead and representation of the club’s successful academy system. He played a key role in their 2024-25 Championship triumph – scoring a career-high five goals after a serious injury derailed his start to the season.
“Max is great,” City head coach Aurelio Vidmar told reporters after last week’s 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers. “He’s developed so much over the last couple of years.
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“His intent is always positive. He wants to do so well, not just for himself but the team.
“He gets into good goalscoring positions. He is just going to get better and better.”
Fast forward to this season and heading into a Round 2 showdown with Perth Glory, this is a striker ready to well and truly break out. The proof is in the numbers.
Only three players aged 21 or younger last season scored more goals than Caputo, two of which earned moves abroad after sharing the Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot – Archie Goodwin and Adrian Segecic (both 13), who are now playing for Charlotte FC and Portsmouth respectively. Newcastle Jets’ Clayton Taylor (7) was the other.
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Caputo, who underwent surgery to repair a syndesmosis injury and fractured fibula in August last year, managed a goal ever 232.2 minutes last season.
The second-youngest debutant in City’s Isuzu UTE A-League history aged 15, he had an xG of 8 – a number only behind Archie Goodwin (13.49) among forwards under the age of 21 in 2024-25.
You just have to look at the position Caputo takes up on the field and the areas in which he operates to see what sort striker he is, and why he is looming as a potential future option for the Australia senior national team.
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Caputo – who joined City’s academy as a winger/attacking midfielder – recorded 85 touches in the box last season; only behind Archie Goodwin and Clayton Taylor among U21 forwards.
Strong in the air, he led the way for aerial duels won (46) in the same category of forwards in that age demographic.
Caputo also ranked second for goal-ending carries (2) behind former Brisbane Roar sensation Thomas Waddingham, who is now playing for Portsmouth, among U21 forwards.
When you look at the Young Socceroo’s numbers in an historical sense, from the start of the Isuzu UTE A-League, Caputo stacks up well.
Among forwards aged 21 or younger in the competition’s history – he is eighth for goals scored (8), behind Archie Goodwin (20), Socceroo Nestory Irankunda (16), Taylor (14), Adelaide United’s Luka Jovanovic (12), Waddingham (11), Melbourne Victory’s Matthew Grimaldi and Bernardo Oliveira of Macarthur Bulls (9).
His 12 goal contributions in that timeframe are also eighth all-time.
“He is very dedicated to his profession. The way he trains is always very good,” Vidmar said.
“If you train the way he does, and most of our guys anyway, than you’ll be able to perform.”
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