Juan Mata was born on April 28, 1988, in Burgos, Spain, and raised in Oviedo. His father, Juan Manuel Mata Rodríguez, was a former professional footballer who later became Juan's agent. Growing up in a football-influenced household, Mata developed a passion for the sport early in life. He also enjoys playing table tennis and sightseeing, particularly in London.
Mata began his football journey with Real Oviedo, where he played for three years before joining Real Madrid’s youth academy at the age of 15. He initially featured for the Cadete A team and steadily progressed through the ranks to the Juvenil C and then Juvenil A teams. During the 2005–06 season, he scored two goals for the team. In the 2006–07 season, Mata moved up to Real Madrid Castilla (the club’s reserve team), switching his shirt number from 34 to 28.
In 2007, Mata signed with Valencia CF after activating a release clause in his Real Madrid contract. During the 2007–08 season, he made a notable impact by scoring twice against FC Barcelona on March 20, 2008, helping Valencia reach the Copa del Rey final. He also contributed to a 3–2 win over Real Madrid in the 2008 Spanish Super Cup, although Valencia lost in the second leg. Mata had a strong 2008–09 campaign, including a remarkable 3–0 win in league play.
| Birth Date: | 28 Apr, 1988 |
| Age: | 32 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player |
| Citizenship: | Spain |
| Birth Place: | Villafranca Montes de Oca |
| Education: | Technical University of Madrid |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Spanish association football player |
| Twitter Id: | Juanmata8 |
| Net Worth 2021: | 55 million |
