Hany Mukhtar Continues As Nashville SC’s Money Player In MLS

In a league that boasts FIFA World Cup champions like Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Sergio Busquets, and Thomas Müller, a player who has never represented his national team remains one of the league’s most consistent and productive attacking threats. Forward Hany Mukhtar is enjoying yet another standout Major League Soccer season for Nashville SC, with 17 goals and eight assists. “Through the history of his time here in Nashville, he’s been obviously a massive piece to the success of the club,” Nashville SC head coach B.J. Callaghan told MLSSoccer.com in May. “Maybe the casual observer just doesn’t see the amount of off-ball work and unselfish work that he is doing, with runs and positioning and moving and creating space for his teammates. A lot of that maybe doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but he’s just been so selfless in doing a lot of that work to open up the opportunities for other guys.” Mukhtar has proven to be MVP-worthy as the league enters the regular season’s penultimate weekend. Nashville SC hosts Red Bull New York on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET. But Messi, riding his reputation and his league-leading 25 goals and 40 total goal contributions, could be the frontrunner in many quarters. It won’t be the end of the world for Mukhtar, who won the award (officially named the Landon Donovan MVP award) in 2022. Mukhtar and his teammates have other aspirations. Winning the MLS Cup on Dec. 18 is the top priority, after securing the Supporter’s Shield. Nashville, which entered the league as an expansion team in 2020 and captured the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2025, has never won the league playoff title. “It’s time for a trophy for this team,” Mukhtar told M LSSoccer.com in July. “We won the Open Cup last year, and it was great. But we have bigger goals as a club, and I think it’s time. We’re growing, and we’re ready to achieve these things.” FORBES | By Michael Lewis Tony’s Reward: A Golden Celebration For South Amboy Coach Gonsalves Still going strong after all these years Many attacking players can lose a step or two when they become thirtysomethings. The 5-foot-8, 152-lb. Mukhtar hasn’t lost a step, helping Nashville to an impressive 21-3-8 mark and 71 points, and an unbeaten home record (14-0-2). The team is aiming to surpass the league record for points in a season (74), set by Inter Miami C in 2024. Mukhtar is the ninth highest-paid MLS player. According to the MLS Players Association, he is the league’s ninth-highest-paid player. He will earn $4 million in guaranteed salary this year and $5,411,667, including bonuses. He has proved to be worth every cent. According to SixOneFive Soccer in 2015, Mukhtar led his Nashville in minutes played and distance covered (he ran an average of 6.9 miles per game, fifth-most in MLS), scoring 16 goals and setting up teammates for a dozen more. FORBES | By Michael Lewis Here’s Why Tyler Adams Is The Perfect Choice As USMNT Captain It’s been one memorable season This season, he has been just as dangerous. He has 17 goals and eight assists. Not many of Mukhtar’s goals are cheapies. * On March 14, Mukhtar tallied the 25,000th goal in MLS history, four minutes into stoppage time in Nashville SC’s dramatic 1-0 win at the Columbus Crew. “We know how difficult it is in MLS to get the win on the road,” Mukhtar told The Tennessean . * On May 17, he recorded a hat-trick in a 3-2 home victory over Los Angeles FC at Geodis Park. His third goal was a 24-yard drive that he curled into the right side of the net. * On Sept. 19, he scored the final goal of a 3-0 home win over the Chicago Fire, as Nashville became the first team to clinch a playoff berth. * On Sept. 26, he struck for both goals in a 2-0 home triumph over Toronto FC at Geodis Park for his 100th career goal for the team across all competitions. His second goal was a hard drive from outside the penalty area that landed in the bottom left corner of the net. * And most recently, on Saturday, Oct. 24, he scored the insurance goal in the 76th minute in the 2-0 road victory over Montreal CF. Mukhtar intercepted a pass, ran into the penalty area on the right flank, and slipped the ball into the net while falling to the ground. “He’s an unbelievable soccer player to begin with,” Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis told The Tennessean . “The way he talks to young guys is the same way he talks to old guys. “He’s always there to give advice, and he’s really approachable for any of the young guys. He’s been unbelievable for the club in everything he does and [I] can’t say enough good things about him.” And there’s plenty more to play for in the MLS Cup Playoffs and the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. FORBES | By Michael Lewis How Sullivan, Hall Have Turned Heads With U.S. Men’s National Team Kljestan, McCarty like what they see And before we forget, Mukhtar has his backers for MVP honors. He has a pair of former MLS all-stars in his corner who are MLS commentators on Apple TV. “Nashville SC are running away with the Supporters’ Shield, and I love this version of Mukhtar,” former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Sacha Kljestan said on MLSSoccer.com recently. “He connects well with the midfield, while forming a dangerous attacking trio with fellow Designated Players Sam Surridge and Cristian Espinoza.” Dax McCarty, a former MLS standout midfielder and one time teammate of Mukhtar, had similar sentiments. “Hany Mukhtar is a club legend at Nashville SC who continues to produce season after season,” he said on MLSSoccer.com . “He’s once again squarely in the Landon Donovan MLS MVP conversation ... and picked up the slack when Sam Surridge has gone through dry spells or been out injured. That’s all while captaining the best team in the league and potentially the best regular-season team of all time!” Some spot-on comments about one of MLS’ greats. FORBES | By Michael Lewis Why Emma Hayes Wants USWNT To Play Top-Ranked Spain Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X an Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published. This article was originally published on Forbes.com