Petar Musa’s World Cup story feels tinged with serendipity. Like any good striker, he was in the right place at the right time.
In his case, that was Dallas.
Musa joined FC Dallas in 2023 to much fanfare. He was the club’s record signing, transferring from a perennial Champions League club S.L Benfica, giants of the Portuguese game. His talent and stature promised goals. “We've secured a world-class attacker in the prime of his career…Petar's signing marks a historic moment for us,” Technical Director André Zanotta said at the time.
Musa delivered. To date, the Croatian has scored 48 goals and added 13 assists in 80 games across all competitions. He’s the third-top scorer in the club’s 30-year history, while his goals per game ratio (0.6) is far and away its best, ever. A smashing success on the field, off it Musa was building a life in his new home.
Musa and his wife, Laura, became parents for the first time just two months after arriving in Dallas and welcomed a second child this year: “It changed everything,” Musa said. “Because now we’re building our family here in the United States, far from our two families. Sometimes that is not easy but I think that is part of life. I’m enjoying being a father and husband every day.”
As Musa’s family grew, so did his goal records. Last year, Musa capped off the best individual campaign of his pro career by tying FC Dallas’ single-season goal record (18). His performances earned a return to Croatia’s national team after a two-year absence. And he wasted no time. In the country’s penultimate World Cup qualifying match in November, Musa scored the game-winning goal to confirm Croatia’s participation – the first of his international career.
“It was just crazy, in my mind, everything stopped,” he explained. “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.”
Despite his goal, Musa’s place in Croatia’s World Cup team was far from guaranteed. A nation of just under 4 million people, Croatia regularly punches above its weight and recorded second and third-place finishes in the previous two World Cups. Up against a rich talent pool, Musa’s roster spot depended mightily on his form ahead of the tournament.
“Every season I want to start well with the team, focus on getting good results and performance with the club,” he said before the 2026 season. “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.”
Musa’s hard work paid off and he started the season like a house on fire. Two goals in the season-opener and a hat trick three games later, the 28-year-old had found the form of his life at just the right time. Once the MLS season paused, Musa had 12 goals from 13 games to his name – a strike rate neither Croatia nor its head coach Zlatko Dalić could ignore.
“It was a Monday and my kids woke me up at 7 a.m.,” Musa said. “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.
“I’m just proud to be Croatian, represent the country, the nation, my family, and FC Dallas on the biggest stage in the world. It means the world to me, and I'm just grateful and so happy to be able to go for the World Cup.”
By happenstance, Croatia and Musa will open their tournament against England in Dallas, his adopted home. When the game kicks off Wednesday afternoon, Musa – surrounded by family, friends, and FC Dallas supporters – will have come full circle.
“It's very special because Dallas is my home now, and Game 1 is here. I’m really happy, it's amazing…They know how much work I put in every day. They support me 100%, they understand how I need to live my life with discipline. Especially my wife, with the two kids, how many times I'm out of the house, working and training. So I just want to thank her, and I’m so happy that I achieved one of my childhood dreams.”
