Matthieu Epolo

Epolo began playing football at KVK Wemmel and later FC Brussels. Epolo came through the youth academy of RSC Anderlecht, moving to Standard Liège at the age of 14 in June 2019. He made his professional debut on 26 August 2022 in the shirt of SL16 FC, the newly launched Standard reserve team playing in the second-flight Challenger Pro League for the 2022–23 season. He started SL16's third match of the season against FCV Dender EH, and ultimately shared game-time with SL16's other main goalkeeper Tom Poitoux, who played 19 games to Epolo's 18. On 25 January 2023, shortly after his 18th birthday and with him being the third goalkeeper for the first team, Epolo extended his contract. Epolo was promoted to the first-team for the 2023–24 Belgian Pro League season, and played the final five games of Standard's campaign, due to both transfer speculation and an injury for first-choice goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart. He made his league debut on 27 April 2024 against Sint-Truiden, promoted by manager Ivan Leko, amid reports that regular goalkeeper Bodart would leave at the end of the season. He enjoyed a 1–1 draw at home to Sint-Truiden on his debut, with 20-year-old Mattéo Godfroid on the bench as Bodart was injured, according to Leko. Fewer than 10,000 fans saw his debut at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne due to a boycott of American owners 777 Partners, a situation Epolo said was understandable. Leko said that Epolo would start the remaining games of the season. Further transfer speculation…

Born in Belgium, Epolo is of DR Congolese descent. He was called up to the Belgium under-17 team for the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Israel. He played all three games in a group-stage elimination. On 1 November 2025, Epolo received his maiden call-up to the DR Congo national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs. On 12 November, his request to switch international allegiance to the DR Congo was approved by FIFA. He debuted with the DR Congo in a 2–0 friendly win over Zambia on 16 December 2025. On May 19, 2026, he was included in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Sébastien Desabre to represent the DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.