Matthieu Luka Epolo
Goalkeeper · Congo DR · №1
Recent matches
| Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
Congo DR
Equatorial Guinea
Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification
|
2:0 | |
Gent
Standard Liege
Jupiler Pro League
|
2:1 | |
KVC Westerlo
Standard Liege
Jupiler Pro League
|
4:2 | |
Standard Liege
Antwerp
Jupiler Pro League
|
1:0 | |
OH Leuven
Standard Liege
Jupiler Pro League
|
1:2 | |
Standard Liege
RAAL La Louvière
Jupiler Pro League
|
2:0 | |
KV Mechelen
Standard Liege
Jupiler Pro League
|
3:3 | |
Standard Liege
Cercle Brugge
Jupiler Pro League
|
2:2 | |
England
Congo DR
World Cup
|
2:1 | |
Congo DR
Uzbekistan
World Cup
|
3:1 |
Season statistics
| Competition | Season | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Jupiler Pro League | 2025 | 10 |
| Jupiler Pro League | 2026 | 7 |
| World Cup | 2026 | 4 |
| Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification | 2027 | 1 |
| Friendlies | 2026 | 1 |
About the player
Matthieu Luka Epolo grew up in the Standard Liège academy after arriving there in 2019, aged 14, following spells with KVK Wemmel, FC Brussels and briefly Anderlecht. He spent two seasons with the club's Challenger Pro League side, Standard Liège B, making 40 appearances before his first-team debut on 27 April 2024 against Sint-Truiden.
His breakthrough season came in 2024–25, when he kept 10 clean sheets in 26 matches, including six in his opening eight league games — a run noted as the best in Europe's top-20 ranked leagues over that stretch. He has since made more than 60 appearances for the Standard Liège first team, taking his overall senior tally with the club to 100.
Epolo came through Belgium's youth ranks, earning 13 caps between under-17 and under-21 level. In October 2025, FIFA approved his request to switch international allegiance to DR Congo. He made his senior debut for his new side on 16 December 2025, a 2–0 friendly win over Zambia. He was then named among DR Congo's three goalkeepers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he served as backup for the Round of 32 match against England.
Wearing the number 1 shirt at Standard Liège, Epolo is right-footed and his market value has been estimated between €3m and €8m.
Career path
- 2024 — 2027 — now Standard Liège 67 matches
- 2023 — 2024 Standard de Liège 16 FC 40 matches
Career
| Season | Club | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/27 | Standard Liège | Jupiler Pro League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 270 |
| 25/26 | Standard Liège | Jupiler Pro League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 890 |
| 25/26 | Standard Liège | Jupiler Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 8 | 0 | 0 | 720 |
| 25/26 | Standard Liège | Croky Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 |
| 24/25 | Standard Liège | Jupiler Pro League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 665 |
| 24/25 | Standard Liège | Jupiler Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 8 | 0 | 0 | 720 |
| 24/25 | Standard Liège | Croky Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 240 |
| 23/24 | Standard de Liège 16 FC | Challenger Pro League | 25 | 0 | 0 | 2 250 |
| 23/24 | Standard Liège | Jupiler Pro League Europe Play-Offs | 4 | 0 | 1 | 360 |
| 22/23 | Standard de Liège 16 FC | Challenger Pro League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 900 |
| 22/23 | Standard de Liège 16 FC | Challenger Pro League Relegation-Playoffs | 5 | 0 | 0 | 436 |
| Total | Standard Liège | 67 | 0 | 2 | 6 045 | |
| Total | Standard de Liège 16 FC | 40 | 0 | 0 | 3 586 | |
| Total | Belgium U17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 720 | |
| Total | Belgium U21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | |
| Total | Belgium U18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | |
| Total | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | |
| Total | Belgium U19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
Transfers
Transfers- 21/22 Standard U18 Standard Liège
- 20/21 Standard Yth Standard U18
- 19/20 Anderlecht Yth. Standard Yth
