Clinton Mata

Clinton Mukoni Mata Pedro Lourenço (born 7 November 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a right‑back for Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais. Born in Verviers, Belgium, Mata represents the Angola national team at international level.

Early life and youth career
Mata began his football education with several local Belgian clubs, including Royal Battice, Entente Rechaintoise and Étoile Elsautoise. He later joined the youth setups of C.S. Visé (2008–2010) and K.A.S. Eupen (2010–2011).

Senior club career

• K.A.S. Eupen (2011–2014) – Mata made his professional debut on 17 February 2012 in a Belgian Second Division match against Waasland‑Beveren. Over three seasons he accumulated 62 league appearances and scored two goals.
• R. Charleroi S.C. (2014–2018) – Transferring to the Belgian First Division A, Mata initially featured as a substitute but secured a regular place by the 2015–16 season, making 82 league appearances and scoring once.
• K.R.C. Genk (loan) (2017–2018) – He spent a season on loan at Genk, appearing in 25 league matches.
• Club Brugge KV (2018–2023) – Mata joined the Belgian champions, making 151 league appearances and scoring five goals. He contributed to Club Brugge’s domestic successes, including a Belgian league title won after the COVID‑19‑affected 2019–20 season and participation in UEFA Champions League campaigns.
• Olympique Lyonnais (2023–present) – On 6 July 2023, Mata signed a three‑year contract with the French Ligue 1 side for a reported fee of €5 million. He has since become a regular in Lyon’s defense, wearing the number 22 shirt.

International career
In July 2014 Mata opted to represent Angola, his ancestral nation, despite earlier interest from the Belgium national team. He earned his first cap later that year and accumulated 18 appearances for Angola as of December 2025. Mata has not scored for the national side.

Playing style
Mata is a right‑back noted for his defensive solidity, positional awareness, and ability to contribute to the attack when required. Throughout his career he has also been deployed as a centre‑back, demonstrating versatility across the defensive line.

Personal information

• Full name: Clinton Mukoni Mata Pedro Lourenço
• Date of birth: 7 November 1992 (age 33)
• Place of birth: Verviers, Belgium
• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
• Preferred foot: Right

Career statistics (selected)

Honours

• Belgian First Division A champion: 2019–20 (Club Brugge)
• Belgian Super Cup: 2022 (Club Brugge)

Information compiled from publicly available sources, including the subject’s Wikipedia entry and associated football databases.