CHARLOTTE, N.C (Thursday, October 29, 2026) - Charlotte FC Forward Liel Abada was voted the MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA for Matchday 33 after a second half hat trick in the Club's 4-0 home victory over CF Montréal. This is the winger's first time receiving the honor and the seventh player in CLTFC history, the first since Patrick Agyemang in 2025 (Matchday 15).
Abada came off the bench and scored Charlotte FC's third-ever hat trick in just 18 minutes of play to help The Crown clinch its 2026 MLS Cup Playoff berth. His feat marked the fastest hat trick in Club history and third-fastest in MLS history. He joins forwards Idan Toklomati and Daniel Ríos as the only players in Charlotte's history to notch three in a match.
The winger is having his best attacking season in MLS, setting personal bests in goals (8), assists (5) and goal contributions (13) through 25 matches in regular season play.
The winger was also named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 33 earlier this afternoon, joining head coach Dean Smith in the weekly honors. Forward Idan Toklomati was also named to the MLS Team of the Matchday Bench after scoring his 15th goal of the season.
With the win over CF Montréal, The Crown clinched a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season and joined Inter Miami CF as the only two clubs to earn at least 50 points in each of the last three regular seasons (2024-26). Charlotte remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, with an opportunity to claim a top four spot in the final two regular season matches.
Smith solidified a spot in fourth place in MLS history for wins during a coach's first three seasons with 47. He became the second coach in league history to earn 50 points in each of his first three seasons, joining former LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo (2022-24). This marks Smith’s first Coach of the Matchday honor of the 2026 season and second in his career (Matchday 9 in 2025).
Entering the match in the 65th minute, Abada needed only two minutes to find the back of the net. After receiving a pass from Djibril Diani near the top of the box, the winger gathered himself and launched a right-footed shot across his body into the left corner of the goal.
Abada continued his scoring run in the 79th minute, with Toklomati faking out his defender before sending a through ball to his fellow Israel National team teammate for his second goal of the night. Toklomati's assist marks his 21st goal contribution of the season.
Just four minutes later, defender Nathan Byrne forced a turnover which led the ball to the feet of Abada at the top of the penalty area. The winger combined with Pep Biel to create a perfect opening for Abada to send the ball over the goal line to complete his hat trick. The assist marked Biel's third of the night, joining Ashley Westwood as the second player in CLTFC history to tally a hat trick of assists in a match.
Toklomati continues to make history in his 2026 campaign, scoring in his fifth consecutive match, a Club record. The striker's goal was his 11th match winner, the most in Club history, and his 15th of the season which is also a CLTFC record.
The Crown will play their final regular season home match on Saturday, October 31 against Orlando City SC. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium. The match will be broadcast on Apple TV.
See Below the Full Team of the Matchday
F: Kristoffer Velde (POR), Dor Turgeman (NE), Liel Abada (CLT)
M: Antoine Griezmann (ORL), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Santiago Rodríguez (CLB), Carles Gil (NE)
D: Anthony Markanich (MIN), Lucas Halter (HOU), Mathías Laborda (VAN)
GK: Patrick Schulte (CLB)
Coach: Dean Smith (CLT)
Bench: Jonathan Bond (HOU), Maxwell Woledzi (NSH), Samuel Gidi (CIN), Jack Jasinski (SJ), Jonathan Bamba (CHI), David Da Costa (POR), Morgan Guilavogui (RSL), Josh Sargent (TOR), Idan Toklomati (CLT)
