PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Petar Musa |
| Date of Birth | 04/03/1998 (Age: 28) |
| Place of Birth | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in / 188 cm |
| Weight | 185 lbs / 84 kg |
| Position | Forward / Striker |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #9 |
| Current Club | FC Dallas |
| Previous Clubs | NK Zagreb, FC Porto B, Slavia Prague, Viktoria Žižkov (loan), Slovan Liberec (loan), Union Berlin (loan), Boavista (loan), Benfica |
| International Caps | 13 |
| International Goals | 2 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| Contract Until | 2027 |
The Frozen Moment
The roar of the Dallas crowd was deafening. It was June 17, 2026, and Croatia were trailing England 2-1 in the World Cup group stage. The clock was ticking toward halftime, and the pressure was immense.
Then, in the waning moments of stoppage time, Mario Pašalić sent a through ball to Ivan Perišić, who headed it toward the box. Petar Musa, the 28-year-old striker who played his club football just 40 miles away in Frisco, volleyed the ball past Jordan Pickford. The stadium erupted.
“The feeling was incredible to score a goal here at home, but I’m not happy because we lost the game,” Musa said after the match. “There’s not much to celebrate because we lost the game.”
The goal was more than just a consolation. It was the culmination of a journey that had taken him from the Croatian lower leagues to Benfica, from the Czech Republic to Germany, and finally to the United States. He had been away from the national team for two years, written off and forgotten. Now, he was scoring on the biggest stage.
“I had been away from the national team for two years,” Musa reflected. “I know how hard I worked and how much I wanted to do everything possible to get back into the squad.”
Origins
Petar Musa was born in Zagreb, Croatia, on March 4, 1998. Football was in his blood—his mother, Jagoda Musa, was a pioneering figure in Croatian women’s football, earning five caps for the national team between 1993 and 1994.
His football journey began in the youth ranks of NK Zagreb, where he made his senior debut in the 2015-16 season. At just 17, he made six appearances in the Croatian top flight. The move to FC Porto B followed, a significant step up for the young striker, where he made two appearances for the Portuguese club’s reserve side.
His career took him across Europe. He played for Slavia Prague, winning the Czech Liga in the 2019-20 season. He also had loan spells at Viktoria Žižkov, Slovan Liberec, and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. In 2021, he moved to Boavista in Portugal, where he made 11 Primeira Liga appearances. In 2022, he signed for Benfica, one of Portugal’s biggest clubs.
The European Forge
Musa’s time at Benfica was marked by steady progress. Over two seasons, he made 44 league appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists. He won the Primeira Liga title in the 2022-23 season and added the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in 2023.
In February 2024, Musa made the move to Major League Soccer, signing for FC Dallas for a club-record fee. The move was a gamble, but it paid off immediately. His debut season was remarkable, scoring 16 goals in 27 appearances and leading the team in goals, shots, and shots on target. He scored his first MLS hat trick against Minnesota United on June 19, 2024. He was named an MLS All-Star in 2024.
The 2025 season was even better. He scored 19 goals in 32 appearances, establishing himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the league. In the 2026 season, he continued his scoring form, netting 12 goals in 13 matches before the World Cup break. He has scored 46 goals in 73 MLS appearances.
His international career was a slower burn. He made his debut for Croatia in April 2023, but then dropped off the radar for two years. His stellar MLS form earned him a recall in November 2025, and he scored the winning goal against the Faroe Islands to help secure Croatia’s World Cup qualification.
The Anatomy of His Game
Musa is a powerful, physical striker who thrives on service in the box. At 6-foot-2, he is a formidable aerial presence, as demonstrated by his volleyed goal against England.
In possession
, his finishing is his greatest asset. He is a clinical finisher, capable of scoring with his head and both feet. In the 2026 MLS season, his non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90 minutes is 0.83, placing him in the top 99th percentile of MLS players. His goal conversion rate is exceptional; he averages 1.04 goals per 90 minutes. He has scored 46 goals in 73 MLS matches.
Out of possession
, he is a willing worker. He presses from the front and contributes to the team’s defensive shape. He has spoken about his role: “The most important thing is to work for the team, to contribute both defensively and offensively, and to be ready in every attacking situation.”
His mentality
is one of his greatest assets. He waited two years for a recall to the national team, but he never gave up. “I kept working, playing well and being patient,” he said. He has described his motivation: “We want to repay them on the pitch by giving our maximum, making them happy and proud.”
His weakness
has been his consistency at the highest level. He has played in multiple European leagues but has not yet established himself at the very top. His career has been defined by loans and moves, but his time at Dallas has allowed him to find stability and consistency.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | FC Dallas | MLS | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | FC Dallas | MLS | 32 | 19 | 7 |
| 2024 | FC Dallas | MLS | 27 | 14 | 5 |
| 2023/24 | Benfica | Primeira Liga | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022/23 | Benfica | Primeira Liga | 28 | 6 | 1 |
| 2021/22 | Boavista | Primeira Liga | 11 | 1 | 1 |
TABLE B: International Career (as of 2026)
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Senior Caps | 13 |
| Senior Goals | 2 |
| Debut | 2023 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| World Cup Goals | 1 (vs England) |
TABLE C: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Czech Liga Winner | Won with Slavia Prague |
| 2023 | Primeira Liga Winner | Won with Benfica |
| 2023 | Portugal Super Cup Winner | Won with Benfica |
| 2024 | MLS All-Star | Named to All-Star team |
| 2024 | FC Dallas Record | Club-record signing |
| 2024 | Most Productive Debut | Scored 16 goals in debut season |
| 2025 | Dallas Goals Record | 18 goals in a season |
| 2025 | Record Hat Tricks | Two hat tricks for Dallas |
| 2026 | World Cup Debut | Scored vs England |
What these figures reveal is a player who has found his scoring touch in MLS and translated that form to the international stage. He has scored 46 goals in 73 MLS appearances and has been the most prolific striker in the league over the past three seasons. His 46 goals are already among the highest totals in Dallas history, and he is on track to break the club’s all-time scoring record.
The Present Tense
The 2026 World Cup has been the stage for Musa’s breakthrough. He was named in Zlatko Dalić’s squad for the tournament, one of two MLS players on Croatia’s roster. He made his tournament debut against England, scoring a volleyed equalizer in the first half.
“I know how hard I worked and how much I wanted to do everything possible to get back into the squad,” he said after the match. He had been away from the national team for two years, but his stellar form with Dallas had earned him a recall.
His performances in MLS have been the foundation of his success. He is tied with Lionel Messi for second in the MLS Golden Boot race with 12 goals. He has scored 46 goals in 73 MLS appearances and has been the most prolific striker in the league.
His future at club level is uncertain. There is transfer interest from European clubs, and his performances at the World Cup will only increase the speculation. He is signed with FC Dallas through 2027.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Musa is a devoted family man. He has been in a relationship with Laura, and the couple have two children: a son named Nikky (born May 2024) and a daughter born in December 2025. He keeps his personal life away from the public eye.
His mother, Jagoda, was a pioneering figure in Croatian women’s football, earning five caps for the national team between 1993 and 1994. His father, Željko Musa, is from Široki Brijeg in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Football is truly in his blood.
He has spoken about the importance of the support from Croatian fans. “We can only be grateful to have fans like these all around the world,” he said.
The Verdict from the Camp
Zlatko Dalić, Croatia head coach:
Dalić recalled Musa after a two-year absence, trusting his MLS form. Musa has described how he “waited a long time for this opportunity.”
Petar Musa, on his World Cup goal:
“The emotions overwhelmed me. I wasn’t crying, but I was extremely happy. Scoring the equaliser in a match like that was a special feeling.”
Petar Musa, on his return to the national team:
“I had been away from the national team for two years. I know how hard I worked and how much I wanted to do everything possible to get back into the squad.”
Where Next?
Petar Musa is 28 years old and at the peak of his powers. He has scored 46 goals in 73 MLS appearances, been an MLS All-Star, and scored his first World Cup goal. He is one of the most prolific strikers in the league and has proven that he can perform on the biggest stage.
His legacy is still being written. He is the player who was written off by the national team, who fought his way back through sheer determination, and who scored on the biggest stage in front of his home fans. The journey from Zagreb to the World Cup has been remarkable. The boy whose mother played for Croatia is now scoring for Croatia on the biggest stage. He has proven that hard work and patience can pay off.
