Petar Musa embracing role as leader in first season with FC Dallas

FRISCO — Petar Musa didn’t take long to discover one of the irresistible temptations North Texas offers its new residents.
“I was hooked on Texas barbecue almost immediately,” said the Croatian forward, who is in his first season with FC Dallas.
The 26-year-old striker accepted the challenge of playing in the MLS after a career that took him to nine European clubs, where he stood out for his ability to drill opposing defenses with his goals.
Musa arrived at FCD in February and almost immediately found Hutchins BBQ, the restaurant he frequents in Frisco, to satisfy his hunger.
Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis, scores and more.
Or with:
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
“I love brisket, ribs and everything that has to do with a good Texas barbecue,” said Musa, who lives in Plano with his wife and 4-month-old baby.
In his first season with FC Dallas, Musa scored 16 goals in all competitions, which is one reason his team is still in contention for a playoff berth. FCD plays its penultimate home match Saturday at Toyota Stadium against Orlando City. FCD has just four matches remaining, sitting five points out of a postseason berth.
In a short time, the 6-3 player has earned the respect of his teammates for the professionalism and responsibility with which he approaches each practice and game.
“Petar is a natural leader,” said FC Dallas head coach Peter Luccin.
“Petar is not very vocal in the locker room, he is more of a quiet personality, but he leads by example. Everyone on the team respects him for how mature he is and the professional way he conducts himself,” Luccin said.
FCD signed Musa to a designated player four-year contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028. Reports indicated FCD paid Portugal’s Benfica a transfer fee of $9.7 million plus $3.3 million in add-ons to acquire the forward, who has six caps with the Croatian national team.
“I never have any regrets about the decisions I made in my life. You need to face every life journey as something new and exciting,” Musa said.
At age 5, Musa started playing soccer in his native Zagreb with a ball his mother gave him.
Since then, soccer and his mother have been the foundations on which he has built his life.
“My mother has always been by my side, always supporting me and guiding me on the right path in life,” said Musa, who suffered through his parents’ divorce when he was a child.
“I had a good childhood, I can’t complain. I was a happy child, and now I am a fulfilled man. I have a wife and a son who have completely changed my life and who are all my motivation to keep going,” said Musa, who has a sister six years older than him.
Those who spend time with Musa daily describe him as a mature young man with his feet firmly on the ground and always willing to contribute to creating a positive environment within the club.
“My philosophy of life is always trying to give my best every single day. Try to be the best version of myself, be kind and be humble in every situation, be grateful for every moment, and portray the best version of me every day,” Musa said.
In addition to being a good soccer player, Musa is a sports fanatic. The Croatian is a big basketball fan and has been seen several times at Dallas Mavericks games.
He recently had his first contact with baseball when the Texas Rangers invited him and FCD goalkeeper Maarten Paes to throw out the game’s first pitch against the Houston Astros on Aug. 5.
“I loved the atmosphere at the Rangers stadium. In Europe, baseball is not well known. I’m trying to learn the rules of baseball, but I like it a lot,” said Musa, an avid tennis and paddle player.
On Saturday, before arriving at Toyota Stadium for the game against Orlando, Musa will make a mandatory stop at Lemma Coffee, a local coffee shop that started in Denton and now has locations in Frisco, Plano and Carrollton.
“I wouldn’t call it a superstition, but rather, it’s a routine I have before every home game of buying a cup of coffee,” Musa said.
“For us Croatians, coffee is something very important in our culture. We like it a lot. It fills me with energy before every game,” he said.
FCD has four games left in the season, and it’s trying to finish the regular season among the top nine teams in the Western Conference that will make the playoffs.
Dallas is in 10th place with 37 points. Minnesota is in ninth place with 42 points.
“Since when I came here, the goal was clear that we want to play playoffs, that we want to fight to win titles, and that’s what we intend to do,” said Musa, who said he felt lucky to play for FC Dallas. “I’m really happy that I decided to come to Dallas.
“I have met so many great people here and I have been able to show my best version doing what I love the most, which is playing soccer.”
Find more FC Dallas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.