Clinton Mata
{{Short description|Footballer (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Clinton Mata
|image = Mata asse ol 2425.png
|caption = Mata with Lyon in 2025
|fullname = Clinton Mukoni Mata Pedro Lourenço
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|7|df=y}}
|birth_place = Verviers, Belgium
|position = Right-back
|currentclub = Lyon
|clubnumber = 22
|youthyears1 = 2000–2003
|youthclubs1 = Royal Battice
|youthyears2 = 2003–2004
|youthclubs2 = Entente Rechaintoise
|youthyears3 = 2004
|youthclubs3 = Royal Battice
|youthyears4 = 2004–2008
|youthclubs4 = Etoile Elsautoise
|youthyears5 = 2008–2010
|youthclubs5 = Visé
|youthyears6 = 2010–2011
|youthclubs6 = Eupen
|years1 = 2011–2014
|clubs1 = Eupen
|caps1 = 62
|goals1 = 2
|years2 = 2014–2018
|clubs2 = Charleroi
|caps2 = 82
|goals2 = 1
|years3 = 2017–2018
|clubs3 = → Genk (loan)
|caps3 = 25
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2018–2023
|clubs4 = Club Brugge
|caps4 = 151
|goals4 = 5
|years5 = 2023–
|clubs5 = Lyon
|caps5 = 57
|goals5 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2014–
|nationalteam1 = Angola
|nationalcaps1 = 8
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|club-update = 25 May 2025
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Clinton Mukoni Mata Pedro Lourenço (born 7 November 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for {{French football updater|Lyon}} club Lyon.{{NFT player|pid=57083|accessdate=3 September 2018}} Born in Belgium, he played for the Angola national team, having made eight appearances.
Club career
=Early years=
Born in Verviers, Belgium, Mata started playing football with local clubs Royal Battice, Entente Rechaintoise, Etoile Elsautoise and Visé before moving to Eupen in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Taecke |first1=Tomas |last2=Dekeyser |first2=Frank |title=Mata: ooit dicht bij Anderlecht, nu gelukkig bij jeugdliefde Club |url=https://www.hln.be/jupiler-pro-league/mata-ooit-dicht-bij-anderlecht-nu-gelukkig-bij-jeugdliefde-club~ae0a0d00/ |work=Het Laatste Nieuws |date=4 April 2019 |language=nl}}{{cite news |title=Clinton Mata weet waar hij na Club Brugge naartoe wil - Voetbalbelgie.be |url=https://www.voetbalbelgie.be/voetbalnieuws/clinton-mata-weet-waar-hij-na-club-brugge-naartoe-wil/2019/04/20/ |work=Voetbal België |date=20 April 2019 |language=nl-BE}} On 17 February 2012, he made his professional debut in a 2–1 win over Waasland-Beveren in the Belgian Second Division.{{cite web |title=AS Eupen vs. Waasland-Beveren - 17 February 2012 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/02/17/belgium/second-division/koninklijke-as-eupen/kv-red-star-waasland/1142410/ |website=int.soccerway.com |access-date=7 March 2021}} Afterwards, Mata was not always in the starting eleven, first winning a regular place in the starting lineup in the second half of the 2013–14 season, where Eupen qualified as runner-up for the final round for promotion to the first Belgian league. This ended in a disappointing 2–1 defeat to OH Leuven.{{cite news |last1=Delvaux |first1=Maarten |title=Moeskroen-Péruwelz promoveert dankzij OHL naar eerste klasse |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20140522_067 |work=Het Nieuwsblad |date=22 May 2014 |language=nl-BE}}
=Charleroi=
In the summer of 2014, Mata moved to Belgian First Division A club Charleroi,{{cite news |last1=Naïli |first1=Ilian |title=Clinton Mata: "Charleroi est un club familial" |url=https://www.walfoot.be/news/2014-06-19/clinton-mata--charleroi-est-un-club-familial? |work=Walfoot.be |date=19 June 2014 |language=fr}} where he was mainly a substitute as before in Eupen, before coming closer to a regular starting spot in the second half of the 2015–16 season. As group winners in play-off 2, Charleroi qualified for the play-off for participation in the final for qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. In the playoff match, Mata and his club beat Kortrijk,{{cite news |title=KV Kortrijk maakt zich op voor 'finale' tegen Charleroi |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20140429_01086594 |work=Het Nieuwsblad |date=29 April 2014 |language=nl-BE}} but lost in the final Europa League play-off match against Genk. The following season marked the breakthrough of Mata for Charleroi, and in August 2017 he moved to Genk on loan.{{cite news |title=Officiel : Clinton Mata prêté une saison à Genk sans option d'achat |url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/jupilerproleague/detail_clinton-mata-prete-une-saison-a-genk-sans-option-d-achat?id=9681120 |work=RTBF Sport |date=11 August 2017 |language=fr}} Mata was part of the team qualifying for the UEFA Europa League after Zulte Waregem were beaten 2–0 in the decisive play-off game.{{cite news |title=IJzersterk Genk speelt Zulte Waregem van de mat in finale Play-offs en mag volgend jaar Europa in |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/live/voetbal/275566 |work=Het Nieuwsblad |date=27 May 2018 |language=nl-BE}}
=Club Brugge=
File:Clinton Mata with Club Brugge (cropped).jpg in 2020.]]
Mata then joined the defending Belgian champions, Club Brugge, but only made his debut on the ninth matchday in the derby against Cercle Brugge due to an injury.{{cite news |last1=Maebe |first1=Guillaume |title=Club Brugge heeft niet één, maar twee geheime wapens tegen Atlético in Champions League |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180929_03796009 |work=www.nieuwsblad.be |date=29 September 2018 |language=nl-BE}} Mata evolved into a starter for the club during his first season, where they finished runner-up in the league. He was also utilised in Club Brugge's UEFA Champions League campaign. In the following season, Mata had experienced his breakthrough when he played almost every game and won the Belgian championship with Club Brugge after the COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in the season being abandoned.{{cite news |title=Club Brugge wint kampioenenmatch voor 16e titel toepasselijk met 16-0 |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/2020-05/club-brugge-viert-zijn-16e-titel/ |work=sporza.be |date=17 May 2020 |language=nl}}
= Lyon =
On 6 July 2023, Mata signed for Ligue 1 club Lyon on a three-year contract. The transfer fee was a reported €5 million.{{Cite web |title=Transferts : Clinton Mata rejoint l'OL (officiel) |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-clinton-mata-rejoint-l-ol-officiel/1406938 |access-date=8 July 2023 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}
International career
In July 2014 Mata was asked to switch his international allegiance to Angola.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28501421|title=Angola extend their pool of talent ahead of Afcon qualifiers|date=26 July 2014|accessdate=28 July 2014|author=Mark Gleeson|publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his debut for the Angola national team later that year, earning 8 caps over two years.{{cite web|access-date=17 June 2024 |date=5 July 2023 |language=fr-FR |title=Lyon : Clinton Mata, cet international angolais très particulier... |url=https://www.afrik-foot.com/mercato-lyon-clinton-mata-international-angolais |website=afrik-foot.com}}
Belgium national team manager Roberto Martínez said he had been particularly impressed by Mata, and had regretted learning of his choice for Angola; Mata stated that he had no regrets playing for Angola.{{cite web|access-date=8 January 2020 |author1=J. Dk |date=30 November 2016 |language=fr |title=Le Carolo Clinton Mata: 'Ce que Roberto Martinez a dit sur moi, c'est très flatteur' |url=https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20161130_00923175/le-carolo-clinton-mata-ce-que-roberto-martinez-a-dit-sur-moi-c-est-tres-flatteur |website=L'avenir.net}}{{cite web|access-date=8 January 2020 |author1=Erik Libois |date=31 March 2017 |language=fr |title=Clinton Mata : 'On ne sera pas les clowns des play-offs' |url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/jupilerproleague/detail_clinton-mata-on-ne-sera-pas-les-clowns-des-play-offs?id=9568677 |website=RTBF Sports}}
In June 2024, Mata returned to the Angolan national team.{{cite web|access-date=17 June 2024 |date=16 June 2024 |first=La |language=fr |last=Rédaction |title=Six ans plus tard, Clinton Mata retrouve la sélection angolaise |url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/europe/championnatsetrangers/2024/05/22/six-ans-plus-tard-clinton-mata-retrouve-la-selection-angolaise-WY633MR43RE3LEAP77EFHQ26PM/ |website=DHnet}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 11 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|clinton-mata-pedro-lourenco/222237|accessdate=3 September 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Belgian Cup, Coupe de France}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Eupen
|11 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2011–12
|Belgian Second Division |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13
|Belgian Second Division |26 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 36 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14
|Belgian Second Division |26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 6 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!62 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | 71 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="5"|Charleroi
|19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|Belgian Pro League |26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17
|Belgian Pro League |36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 38 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18
|Belgian Pro League |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!82 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 87 | 1 | ||
| Genk (loan)
|Belgian Pro League |25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="6"|Club Brugge
|Belgian Pro League |24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2019–20
|Belgian Pro League |25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10{{efn|Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 2020–21
|Belgian Pro League |39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| 2021–22
|Belgian Pro League |38 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=BSC|Appearance in Belgian Super Cup}} | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2022–23
|Belgian Pro League |25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=BSC}} | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!151 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 197 | 5 | |
| rowspan="3"|Lyon
|28 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|Ligue 1 |29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 39 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!57 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 72 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!377 | 8 | 30 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 457 | 8 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Angola
|2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 8 | 0 |
Honours
Club Brugge
- Belgian Pro League: 2019–20,{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11989063/club-brugge-awarded-belgian-pro-league-title-as-season-ended-early |title=Club Brugge awarded Belgian Pro League title as season ended early |publisher=Sky Sports |date=15 May 2020 |access-date=15 May 2020}} 2020–21{{cite web|date=20 May 2021|title=Lang nets as Club Brugge seal Belgian title|url=http://www.football-oranje.com/lang-nets-as-club-brugge-seal-belgian-title/|website=Football Oranje}}
- Belgian Super Cup: 2018, 2021,{{cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/07/17/belgium/super-cup/club-brugge-kv/krc-genk/3512452/|title=Club Brugge vs. Gent 3-2|website=Soccerway|date=17 July 2021}} 2022{{Cite web |last=Oludare |first=Shine |date=17 July 2022 |title=Odoi, Sowah, Mata and Mbamba win Belgian Super Cup with Club Brugge |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ug/news/odoi-sowah-mata-and-mbamba-win-belgian-super-cup-with-club/blt38303171d6923e7c |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=Goal}}
Lyon
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2023–24{{Cite web |date=25 May 2024 |title=PSG beat Lyon 2-1 to win French Cup final in Mbappe's farewell appearance |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/psg-beat-lyon-2-1-french-cup-final-clinch-domestic-treble-2024-05-25/ |access-date=25 May 2024 |website=Reuters}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{NFT player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Olympique Lyonnais squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mata, Clinton}}
Category:Footballers from Verviers
Category:Belgian people of Angolan descent
Category:Angolan people of Belgian descent
Category:Angolan men's footballers
Category:Angolan expatriate men's footballers
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Angola men's international footballers
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Royal Charleroi S.C. players
Category:Club Brugge KV players
Category:Olympique Lyonnais players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France
Category:Angolan expatriate sportspeople in France