Max Mata

Max Mata (born 10 July 2000) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Real Monarchs SLC and the New Zealand national team.

Max Mata
Personal information
Full name Max Andrew Mata
Date of birth (2000-07-10) 10 July 2000
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Real Monarchs
Youth career
–2018 Onehunga Sports
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 16 (8)
2017–2018 Eastern Suburbs 18 (3)
2019–2020 Grasshopper 0 (0)
2019 → Nõmme Kalju (loan) 14 (9)
2021– Real Monarchs 0 (0)
National team‡
2017 New Zealand U-17 7 (5)
2018–2019 New Zealand U-20 6 (5)
2019– New Zealand 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2019

Club career

Nõmme Kalju

Mata made his professional debut as a half-time substitute for Nõmme Kalju in their 5–0 loss to Celtic in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round on 24 July 2019.[1]

Real Monarchs

On 18 December, 2020, Mata signed with USL Championship side Real Monarchs.[2]

International career

U-20

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. [3][4] 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.[5][6]

National team

Mata made his international debut on 15 November 2019, coming on as a substitute for New Zealand in their 0–1 loss to Lithuania.[7]

Personal life

Mata is of Māori and Cook Island Māori descent.[8]

Honours

International

Individual

References
  1. "Celtic 5-0 Nomme Kalju: Griffiths scores first goal since November in rout". 24 July 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  2. "Real Monarchs Add New Zealand Forward Max Mata". www.rsl.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. Voerman, Andrew (14 May 2019). "Ban no barrier to Kiwi striker Max Mata making Fifa Under-20 World Cup squad". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. "Talented New Zealand team heading into Fifa Under-20 World Cup full of confidence". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  5. "Uruguay end group stage with perfect record". FIFA. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. "Cafeteros outlast Kiwis in dramatic shoot-out". FIFA. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  7. Voerman, Andrew. "Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  8. "Young Kiwi signs professional football contract in Europe - 'proud of my family name and where I have come from'" – via TVNZ.
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