STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | March 16, 2026 — Forward Petar Musa continues to deliver one of the hottest starts in Major League Soccer this season, earning MLS Player of the Matchday honors for Matchday 4 following a historic performance for FC Dallas.
The Croatian striker captured the league award after scoring the first hat trick of the 2026 MLS season during Dallas’ dramatic 3–3 draw against San Diego FC at Toyota Stadium. The three-goal performance marked the second hat trick of Musa’s career with FC Dallas, making him the first player in club history to accomplish the feat twice.
Musa’s performance also marked the 12th hat trick in the club’s MLS history and further cemented his place among the franchise’s elite goal scorers.
Climbing the Dallas Record Books
With three goals on Saturday night, Musa increased his career total with Dallas to 39 goals, moving into fourth place on the club’s all-time scoring list. In the process, he surpassed former Dallas forward Blas Pérez and now trails only a handful of club legends.
The performance was also Musa’s fifth career multi-goal match with the club, highlighting the striker’s consistent attacking influence since joining the Dallas lineup.
His early-season scoring run began in February when he opened the 2026 campaign with a brace against Toronto FC in Dallas’ season opener.
Through the opening stretch of the season, Musa has established himself as one of MLS’ most dangerous attacking players, leading the league in both total goals and expected goals (xG).
International Recognition
Musa’s strong club form has also earned him another opportunity on the international stage.
The forward was recently called up to represent the Croatia national football team for upcoming international friendlies later this month. Croatia will face Colombia national football team on March 26 before taking on Brazil national football team on March 31, with both matches scheduled to take place at Camping World Stadium.
The call-up continues Musa’s return to the Croatian national team setup after a productive international window in November 2025. During that stretch, Musa scored his first senior international goal in a 3–1 victory over the Faroe Islands and added an assist in a match against Montenegro.
Continued MLS Recognition
This marks the second time Musa has been named MLS Player of the Matchday during his Dallas career. His first honor came during Matchday 21 of the 2024 season.
With the latest award, Musa joins a select group of FC Dallas players who have earned multiple Player of the Matchday recognitions within a three-season span. Among them are former Dallas standout Ricardo Pepi, who won the award twice in 2021, and club legend David Ferreira, who captured the honor in both 2011 and 2012.
The MLS Player of the Matchday award is determined through a combined voting process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters accounts for 75 percent of the vote, while a fan vote on Instagram represents the remaining 25 percent.
Team of the Matchday
Musa’s standout performance also earned him a place in the MLS Team of the Matchday alongside several of the league’s top performers.
Other attacking players selected included Nicolás Fernández Mercau of New York City FC and Brian White of Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Midfield selections featured Miguel Almirón, Sebastian Berhalter, Mathieu Choinière, and Luca Langoni.
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas earned the starting goalkeeper selection, while Brian Schmetzer was named Coach of the Matchday after guiding Seattle Sounders FC to victory.
A Hot Start to 2026
For FC Dallas, Musa’s scoring form has provided a crucial spark early in the season.
The striker currently leads the club’s offensive production and has quickly positioned himself among the leading contenders in the MLS Golden Boot race.
If Musa continues at his current pace, the Croatian forward could soon find himself climbing even higher on the FC Dallas all-time scoring list while solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s most dangerous finishers.
