But the Spanish magician would throw a little extra evidence into the pot anyway, just for good measure.
This time, with the referee’s final whistle fast approaching, he led a counter-attack charge from the edge of his own box, picking out Rodrigus with a beautifully weighted lob once he’d reached the middle of the pitch.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! 😮💨 Juan Mata could not have delivered a better pass if he tried.
Santos finishes it off with a brilliant curling effort.
This is champagne football at its finest 🍾
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— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 21, 2026
The Brazilian forward didn’t need to break his stride as he ran onto the pass, cutting in on his right foot to curl in the third, sealing Victory’s win against their rivals, and solidifying their place inside the A-League’s top six.
“Special player,” Bruno Fernandes wrote on Instagram as he watched on from home. “I’ve seen this goal before @brunofernandes8,” former United goalkeeper David de Gea posted on his own story, referencing the first wonder strike.
Mata turns 38 in April, but you wouldn’t believe it on this showing. Keep smashing it, Juan!