Luís Mata

Luís Carlos Machado Mata (born 6 July 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Kazakh club Kairat.

Club career Porto B Born in Porto, Mata came through the ranks of hometown club Porto. On 7 August 2016, he made his professional debut with Porto B in a 2016–17 LigaPro match against Aves, a 2–1 away loss. The following January, he was loaned to Portimonense of the same league for the rest of the season.

On 27 September 2017, Mata scored his only goal for Porto B to conclude a 2–0 home win over Cova da Piedade. The following 6 March, he had his one call-up to the first team, remaining unused in a goalless draw away to Liverpool after the Dragons had already lost the first leg of the UEFA Champions League last 16 5–0 at home.

Mata was loaned to Cartagena of the Spanish Segunda División B on 31 August 2018, along with teammates Rui Moreira and João Costa. Under manager Gustavo Munúa, he was fourth choice in his primary position, but made more appearances in the second half of the season at right back due to an injury crisis.

On 5 January 2020, captain Mata was sent off in the 17th minute of Porto B's 3–1 home loss to Académica de Coimbra for giving away a penalty, from which Zé Castro opened the scoring.

Pogoń Szczecin On 9 July 2020, Mata ended his 13-year stay with Porto with 12 months of his contract remaining, to sign a three-year deal at Pogoń Szczecin in the Polish Ekstraklasa. He joined his compatriot former teammate Tomás Podstawski at the club.

Zagłębie Lubin On 8 February 2023, having lost his spot in the line-up to Léo Borges in the latter half of 2022, and with Leonardo Koutris' arrival in the winter, Mata left Pogoń for another Ekstraklasa team, Zagłębie Lubin, penning a deal until June 2025.

Loan to Kairat On 27 February 2025, Mata moved to Kazakh club Kairat on loan for the remainder of the season.

Career statistics

Honours Kairat Kazakhstan Premier League: 2025