Petar Musa Delivers 12 Goals For England Fc In 13 Games

Petar Musa turned a November qualifier into a World Cup roster spot, then backed it up with 12 goals in 13 MLS games before the league pause for england fc. The FC Dallas striker had already scored the goal that sent Croatia to the tournament, and his start to the 2026 season made the call-up hard to ignore.

Musa and Croatia

Musa scored the game-winning goal in Croatia’s penultimate World Cup qualifying match in November, and that strike sent Croatia to the World Cup. He later said, "It was just crazy, in my mind, everything stopped," and added, "I was waiting for that moment. When I scored the goal, it's really hard to describe that feeling. It was happiness, proud, everything at once. It’s a feeling and a memory I’ll have for life."

The 28-year-old then got the news at home on Monday at 7 a.m. His wife, Laura, woke him up and told him he had made Croatia’s World Cup team. Musa said, "It was a Monday and my kids woke me up at 7 a.m.," and, "I was just waking up and my wife came in and she hugged me, and she said, ‘You're there, you made it.’ It was an incredible moment for me and my family."

FC Dallas Form

Musa’s club numbers explain why Croatia brought him back after a two-year absence. He joined FC Dallas in 2023 as the club’s record signing from S.L Benfica, and he has 48 goals and 13 assists in 80 games across all competitions. He is already the third-top scorer in FC Dallas history, and last year he tied the club’s single-season goal record with 18 goals.

He opened the 2026 season with two goals in the season-opener, then scored a hat trick three games later. By the time the MLS season paused, he had 12 goals in 13 games. That run came after he said before the season, "Every season I want to start well with the team, focus on getting good results and performance with the club," and, "I know that this will be very important for me to be there, because we have a lot of players in my national team who also play in very good leagues, and there are limited numbers of players who can go. So, I’ll work hard and have a faith that I will be there again and go on to the World Cup."

Croatia's Narrow Path

For Croatia, the move fits a team that has reached the last two finals, finishing second and third in the previous two World Cups. With a population of just under 4 million people and limited roster spots, the margin for selection stayed tight. Musa answered with a qualifying goal, then with production that matched the statement he made on the field in Dallas.