In the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf, he again placed thirteenth in the individual sprint, held this time in the classic style.

Only three days later, though, Mäki won his first World Championships medal when he and teammate Ristomatti Hakola placed second at the team sprint event.

[1][2] In the 4 x 10 kilometre relay, he placed sixth along with teammates Hakola, Iivo Niskanen and Perttu Hyvärinen, with whom he'd reached the podium in Lahti earlier in the season.

In the weeks after, though, he began suffering from health problems and missed the Tour de Ski, among other World Cup events.

Mäki, who has never reached a freestyle sprint final in World Cup competitions, placed fourth, only a second short of the bronze medal.