Imanol Machuca

Imanol Javier Machuca (born 15 January 2000) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Argentine Primera División club Independiente. He represented Malaysia at international level; however, the documents proving his Malaysian ancestry were later found to have been forged.

Career

Early career Machuca started his career in Roldán with San Lorenzo. Spells soon followed with El Porvenir del Norte and Sportivo Matienzo, which preceded him joining the system of Talleres. After two years in the reserves, he was promoted into the first-team squad in October 2020 under manager Juan Manuel Azconzábal; penning pro terms on 28 October. Machuca made his senior debut on 29 October during a Copa Sudamericana second stage first leg home defeat to Emelec, as he replaced Juan Manuel García with two minutes left.

Fortaleza On 29 July 2023, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Fortaleza announced the signing of Machuca on a four-year deal, having acquired 50% of the player's economic rights for a reported fee of $2.5 million. Machuca arrived at Leão do Pici in 2023, when he played just 22 games, scoring two goals. In the 2024 season, the striker played 43 games, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

Loan to Vélez Sarsfield On 13 January 2025, Machuca joined Argentine Primera División side Vélez Sarsfield on loan until the end of the year, with an option to buy. Vélez suspended Machuca following his sanction by FIFA in September of the same year. After the ban was temporarily lifted in January 2026, Machuca returned to Vélez Sarsfield.

International career Born in Argentina, Machuca claimed to be of Malaysian descent. He was called up to the Malaysia national team for a set of friendlies in June 2025. Machuca made his international debut on 10 June 2025 in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow debutant Rodrigo Holgado.

He was among seven Malaysian national team players sanctioned by FIFA on 26 September 2025 when the disciplinary committee found that Football Association of Malaysia used doctored documentation to be able to field foreign-born players. As a result, Machuca was suspended from all football-related activities for one year. However, this ban was temporarily lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 26 January 2026 pending the final ruling.

Personal life Born in Argentina, Machuca claimed to be of Malaysian descent through his grandmother. However, FIFA released a statement that his grandmother was not born in nor has Malaysian ancestry, as the documentation submitted by Football Association of Malaysia proven to be doctored.

Career statistics Club .

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League National cup League cup Continental State league Total DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Unión Santa Fe 2019–20 Primera División — —00 — —00 2020–21 Primera División 10 — —1 0 —20 2021 Primera División 212 — — — —212 2022 Primera División 33320 —8 000110 Career total 11612910024116016514

International

Honours Fortaleza Copa do Nordeste: 2024 Copa Sudamericana runner-up: 2023

Velez Sarsfield Supercopa Internacional: 2024 Supercopa Argentina: 2024