That's the view of coach Arthur Diles after the Spanish maestro delivered an all-time match-winning masterclass in Victory's 3-1 win over Melbourne City on Saturday night.
Mata has three goals and a league-leading nine assists after scoring an incredible brace - including a world-class long-range strike - and brilliantly assisting Santos for Victory's third.
The 37-year-old has won the World Cup, Euros, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Copa del Rey and titles in both Turkey and Japan.
It gives Diles belief his star man, who he signed despite the Spaniard's struggles at Western Sydney last year, can help take fifth-placed Victory to the top.
"I can assure you that I wouldn't have signed him if I didn't believe that this was the outcome we would get from him," Diles said.
"In my mind, that's what I envisioned. I've always said that's the piece of the puzzle that this team needed, to bring the other people to life around him.
"He's having a fantastic season. There is a long way to go still but he's helped players around him like Nish (Velupillay), Grima (Matt Grimaldi), Niko (Vergos), Charles (Nduka) and Keegan (Jelacic), who has had the best season of his career with still eight games to go.
"That is important. He has a role and responsibility to himself to live up to his reputation and he's got his responsibility within the team.
"Then you've got the person behind the footballer and that's what makes him a really valuable person in our club."
Victory lost the past two grand finals, haven't won a championship since 2017-18 and last claimed the premiership in 2014-15.
But if Victory can reach the pointy end of the season, there is a feeling Mata's quality could prove the difference.
"The last few years, we found it difficult to unlock deep defences or unlock matches at crucial times and we know he can do that," Diles said.
"It's not easy to do and only certain players can do that
"It's the most valuable part and it's why we needed him. He's showing what we believed in.
"We have massive belief in him and he's doing his job as best he can. He's working really hard for the team. You've got quality but you've also got everything else that comes with it."
As for the man himself, Mata still has plenty of drive.
"It's about motivation. Football, many times, is a state of mind," he said.
"This year, I'm enjoying. I feel at home here with the coaching staff, with the teammates, with the club, fantastic people here in Victory.
"So the more I play, the better I feel. And I think that's good news for that stage of my career."
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