Max Mata
{{Short description|New Zealand footballer (born 2000)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Max Mata
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|7|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| height = 1.86 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Auckland FC
(on loan from Shrewsbury Town)
| clubnumber = 9
| youthyears1 = –2018
| youthclubs1 = Onehunga Sports
| clubs1 = Wellington Phoenix Reserves
| years1 = 2015–2017
| caps1 = 16
| goals1 = 8
| clubs2 = Eastern Suburbs
| years2 = 2017–2018
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 3
| clubs3 = Grasshopper II
| years3 = 2019–2020
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 5
| clubs4 = → Nõmme Kalju (loan)
| years4 = 2019
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 9
| clubs5 = Real Monarchs
| years5 = 2021–2022
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 2
| clubs6 = Sligo Rovers
| years6 = 2022–2023
| caps6 = 50
| goals6 = 18
| clubs7 = Shrewsbury Town
| years7 = 2023–
| caps7 = 22
| goals7 = 1
| clubs8 = → Sligo Rovers (loan)
| years8 = 2024
| caps8 = 14
| goals8 = 4
| clubs9 = → Auckland FC (loan)
| years9 = 2024–
| caps9 = 19
| goals9 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U-17
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam2 = New Zealand U-20
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| nationalyears3 = 2019–
| nationalteam3 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps3 = 14
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalteam-update = 30 June 2024
| club-update = 26 May 2025
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|NZ}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|OFC Nations Cup}}
{{Medal|W|2024 Fiji/Vanuatu|}}
{{MedalCompetition|OFC U-19 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2018 Cook Islands/Tahiti|}}
{{MedalCompetition|OFC U-17 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2017 Samoa/Tahiti|}}
}}
Max Andrew Mata (born 10 July 2000) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for A-League club Auckland FC, on loan from {{English football updater|ShrewsbT}} club Shrewsbury Town, and the New Zealand national team.
Club career
=New Zealand=
After shining in New Zealand as the youngest goalscorer in the country's top-flight at 15, Mata travelled to Switzerland to train with Grasshoppers. After an impressive trial period, he signed for the club.
=Grasshoppers=
After scoring four goals in his first seven games for the reserves, he was loaned to Estonian side, Nõmme Kalju, in 2019 to further his development in a first-team environment. Mata never established himself with Zurich's first-team.
==Loan to Nõmme Kalju==
After joining on loan, Mata made his professional debut for Nõmme Kalju in their 5–0 loss to Celtic in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round on 24 July 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49086666|title=Celtic 5–0 Nomme Kalju: Griffiths scores first goal since November in rout|work=BBC Sport|date=24 July 2019}} Mata would make 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 12 times.
=Real Monarchs=
Mata left Switzerland on a free transfer in December 2020 and signed for American second-tier side, Real Monarchs.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Real Monarchs Add New Zealand Forward Max Mata|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2020/12/18/real-monarchs-add-new-zealand-forward-max-mata|access-date=3 February 2020|website=www.rsl.com}}
=Sligo Rovers=
On 15 February 2022, it was announced that Mata had signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sligorovers.com/max-mata-signs-for-sligo-rovers/|title=Max Mata signs for Sligo Rovers – Sligo Rovers|date=15 February 2022}} He was named Sligo Rovers' Young Player of the Year in the same year.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-28 |title=Max Mata named Wehrly Bros/Sligo Rovers Young POTY – Sligo Rovers |url=https://www.sligorovers.com/max-mata-named-wehrly-bros-sligo-rovers-young-poty/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |language=en-US}} He finished the 2022 season with seven goals and four assists in sixteen appearances in the league,{{Cite web |title=Summary - Premier Division - Republic of Ireland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway |url=https://ie.soccerway.com/national/ireland-republic/premier-league/2022/regular-season/r67000/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=ie.soccerway.com}}{{Cite web |title=New Zealand - M. Mata - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway |url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/max--mata-/429717/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=ie.soccerway.com}} as well as scoring twice in the Europa Conference League. In July 2022, he signed a contract extension until at least the end of the 2024 season.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-26 |title=Max Mata extends his Rovers' contract – Sligo Rovers |url=https://www.sligorovers.com/max-mata-extends-his-rovers-contract/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |language=en-US}} In February 2023, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–2 win away to UCD at the UCD Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0224/1358684-mata-hits-hat-trick-as-sligo-snatch-points-at-ucd/|title=Mata hits hat-trick as Sligo snatch points at UCD|first=Paul|last=Buttner|date=24 February 2023|via=www.rte.ie}}
=Shrewsbury Town=
On 3 August 2023, Mata signed for League One club Shrewsbury Town on a three-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2023/august/salop-sign-international-striker-max-mata/|title=Salop sign international striker Max Mata!|website=www.shrewsburytown.com|date=3 August 2023|accessdate=3 August 2023}}
==Loan to Sligo Rovers==
On 15 February 2024, it was announced that Mata had returned to Sligo Rovers, on loan until the summer.{{cite web | url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0215/1432514-mata-makes-sligo-rovers-return-months-after-departure/ | title=Mata makes Sligo Rovers return months after departure | website=RTÉ.ie | date=15 February 2024 }} He scored 4 goals in 14 appearances during his time back on loan with the club.{{cite web | url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/max--mata-/429717/ | title=New Zealand - M. Mata - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway }}
==Loan to Auckland==
On 3 June 2024, it was announced that Mata had joined newly formed A-League side Auckland on loan.{{cite web | url=https://aucklandfc.co.nz/news/afc-blend-youth-with-experience-as-two-more-signings-announced/ | title=AFC blend youth with experience as two more signings announced | date=3 June 2024 }}
International career
=Youth=
Mata was named in the New Zealand U-20 side for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was picked for the tournament even though he would be unavailable for the first two games of the tournament due to a red card that he picked up in the final of the OFC U-19 Championship qualifiers.{{cite news |last1=Voerman |first1=Andrew |title=Ban no barrier to Kiwi striker Max Mata making Fifa Under-20 World Cup squad |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/112489560/ban-no-barrier-to-kiwi-striker-max-mata-making-fifa-under20-world-cup-squad |accessdate=18 November 2019 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=14 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/112868265/talented-new-zealand-team-heading-into-fifa-under20-world-cup-full-of-confidence|title=Talented New Zealand team heading into Fifa Under-20 World Cup full of confidence|website=Stuff.co.nz|date=23 May 2019|language=en|access-date=10 July 2019}} Mata ended up making two appearances for the U-20s, first in the last group game against Uruguay, where he captained the team, and in the round of 16 penalty shootout loss to Colombia.{{cite web |title=Uruguay end group stage with perfect record |url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/match/400010585/#darwin-nunez-of-uruguay-celebrates-after-scoring |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517055307/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/match/400010585/#darwin-nunez-of-uruguay-celebrates-after-scoring |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2019 |website=FIFA |accessdate=18 November 2019}}{{cite web |title=Cafeteros outlast Kiwis in dramatic shoot-out |url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/match/400010615/#colombia-v-new-zealand-round-of-16-2019-fifa-u-20-world-cup-x0644 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517053720/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/match/400010615/#colombia-v-new-zealand-round-of-16-2019-fifa-u-20-world-cup-x0644 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2019 |website=FIFA |accessdate=18 November 2019}}
=Senior=
Mata made his international debut on 15 November 2019, coming on as a substitute for New Zealand in their 0–1 loss to Lithuania.{{cite news |last1=Voerman |first1=Andrew |title=Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/117073764/secondstring-all-whites-fail-to-seize-opportunities-in-loss-to-lithuania |accessdate=18 November 2019 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz}} After a long spell out of the national team, he earned a call up in March 2023 for two friendly fixtures against China,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/nzfootball/newsarticle/125644?newsfeedid=1275622|title=All Whites squad named for home series vs China|website=www.nzfootball.co.nz}} followed by another callup in June for friendlies against Sweden and Qatar.{{Cite web |title=All Whites squad announced for games this month against Sweden and Qatar |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/nzfootball/newsarticle/129219?newsfeedid=1223399&newsfeedpagenum=1 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=www.nzfootball.co.nz}}
Personal life
Mata is of Māori and Cook Island Māori descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/football/young-kiwi-signs-professional-football-contract-in-europe-proud-my-family-name-and-have-come|title=Young Kiwi signs professional football contract in Europe – 'proud of my family name and where I have come from'|via=TVNZ}} His older brother, Benjamin, is a footballer playing for Wellington Olympic and the Cook Islands national team.{{Cite web |last=friendsoffootballnz_irqgpj |date=2022-03-06 |title=The World Cup squad stacked with Lotto NRFL names — and a comedian |url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2022/03/06/the-world-cup-squad-stacked-with-lotto-nrfl-names-and-a-comedian/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Friends of Football |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |title=Ben Mata - Men's Soccer |url=https://missouristatebears.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/ben-mata/4428 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Missouri State |language=en}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 22 February 2025}}{{Cite web |title=New Zealand - M. Mata - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/max-mata-/429717/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=uk.soccerway.com}}
| 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 !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Wellington Phoenix Reserves
|rowspan=2|Premiership |6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 3 | |||
| 2016–17
|10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 5 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 8 | |
| rowspan="3"|Eastern Suburbs
|rowspan=2|Premiership |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| rowspan="2"|Grasshopper Club
|rowspan=2|Swiss Super League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| Nõmme Kalju (loan)
|2019 |14 | 9 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{Efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League and two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 19 | 9 | ||
| Real Monarchs
|2021 |19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Sligo Rovers
|2022 |rowspan=2|LOI Premier Division |27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 2 | 30 | 9 | ||
| 2023
|23 | 11 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 12 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!50 | 18 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 2 | 54 | 21 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Shrewsbury Town
|rowspan=2|EFL League One |22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{Efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| 2024–25
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| Sligo Rovers (loan)
|2024 |LOI Premier Division |14 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 4 | ||||
| Auckland FC (loan)
|19 | 2 | colspan=2|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!167 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 180 | 49 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 30 June 2024}}{{NFT player|id=76247|name=Max Mata|accessdate=4 June 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ International statistics | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="6" |New Zealand
|2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | |
| colspan="2" |Total||14||2 |
=International goals=
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center | 1
| 21 June 2024 || VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu || {{fb|VAN}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 4–0 || rowspan=2 | 2024 OFC Nations Cup | ||||||
| align=center | 2
| 30 June 2024 || VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu || {{fb|VAN}} || align=center | 3–0 || align=center | 3–0 |
Honours
Auckland FC
New Zealand U17
New Zealand U19
New Zealand
Individual
- OFC U-19 Men's Championship Golden Boot: 2018
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{FIFA player}}
{{Auckland FC squad}}
{{New Zealand squad 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mata, Max}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:New Zealand men's association footballers
Category:New Zealand men's under-20 international footballers
Category:New Zealand men's international footballers
Category:New Zealand Māori people
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players
Category:Real Monarchs players
Category:Nõmme Kalju FC players
Category:Sligo Rovers F.C. players
Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
Category:New Zealand National League players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:New Zealand expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Estonia
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Estonia
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Ireland
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:English Football League players
Category:2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup players