David Muta

David Muta (born 24 October 1987) is a Papua New Guinean former international footballer who played as a midfielder. He is the coach of the Papua New Guinea national team.

Club career Muta started his playing career with Hekari United in 2006. Two years later, he joined Australian club Sunshine Coast FC and helped his side to win the Queensland State League title. On 6 December 2008, he played against LA Galaxy in an exhibition match in New Zealand, as part of an Oceania XI All-Star team.

After moving back to Papua New Guinea, Muta captained Hekari United to victory in the OFC Champions League in 2010 and guided the team to the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. He played the full 90 minutes in the 3–0 defeat to Al Wahda.

International career Muta represented Papua New Guinea's under-23 team at the 2008 OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Fiji, where he scored 2 goals. On 27 August 2011, Muta made his senior international debut in a 2011 Pacific Games against Cook Islands, scoring in a 4–0 victory. Muta was named as captain of Papua New Guinea for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup on home soil. He played in all games and helped his country reach the final for the first time in their history. Despite losing in the final to New Zealand, he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

International goals Scores and results list Papua New Guinea's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 27 August 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari, New Caledonia 3–0 4–0 2011 Pacific Games

Honours Player Hekari United Papua New Guinea National Soccer League: 2006, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013, 2014 OFC Champions League: 2009–10

Sunshine Coast Queensland State League: 2008

Papua New Guinea OFC Nations Cup: runner-up, 2016

Coach Papua New Guinea MSG Prime Minister's Cup: 2024; runner-up, 2025

Individual OFC Nations Cup Golden Ball: 2016