As Pep Biel stepped up to the penalty spot, he took a breath, his eyes bouncing between the ball and the goalkeeper as he visualized the shot.
All that stood between the Spaniard and his 12th goal of the season was the 12 yards between the ball and the goal and FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano. Biel took eight steps before swinging his left foot through the ball, powering his shot past Celentano into the back of the net.
Biel made history with the goal, becoming Charlotte FC’s all-time goal contributions leader (24G+25A) in The Crown’s 3-3 draw against Cincinnati on September 12, passing Karol Świderski.
“It’s a great fillip for him,” Head Coach Dean Smith said. “He's been excellent since he's been here. The balance that he has, the technical ability that he has. He deserves it because he has been excellent since he has been here. Great attitude, his standards are always up there and you know he keeps pushing himself to get better, so we're really pleased for him."
Biel’s decision to join the club he’d later become a record-breaker at was a hurried one.
Five hours.
That’s all the time he had to decide whether to stay at Olympiacos in Greece or take a risk and move across the Atlantic Ocean for a four-month loan spell with Charlotte FC. Biel chose the latter, moving to the United States, a country he had never been to before. His loan was extended prior to the 2025 season before The Crown made the move permanent on January 8.
More than 18,000 hours later, since Biel’s decision to join Charlotte in August 2024, he has made his mark on the Club and the city.
The Mallorcan Magician is one of just three players in MLS in the past two seasons to record double-digit goals and assists, joining Lionel Messi and Evander. Biel is on track to lead Charlotte FC in assists for the second consecutive season with 10 so far this season, following up his 12-assist 2025 season. Biel is also on track to lead the team in goals after tying for second on the squad with 10 last year.
“Of course, I'm a bit proud to do that in Charlotte to make these numbers,” Biel said following the game. “For me, I just do try my best, and that's it.”
Biel has been a steady presence for Charlotte FC, never going more than four consecutive matches without a goal or assist in his tenure with the club. Biel has either scored or assisted in 18 of the 25 MLS games, including nine goal contributions (5G+4A) since the end of the World Cup break.
He has been rewarded for his consistent play for the Club by Smith, starting in the midfield in every MLS game.
“It's tough to do, but it's their profession,” Smith said. “If they don't do it, they're not in the team any longer, so they know there's always somebody waiting to take their place. The beauty of it is if you keep being successful, then you get rewarded for it and that's what he's doing. He's pushing to keep getting rewarded. ”
Biel has also rewarded his teammates using his central position in the 4-3-3 formation.
He started the counterattack to level the game in Charlotte’s 2-1 win against Montreal on September 9. He lofted a ball down the left side of the field to Allan Saint-Maximin, giving him an entire field to work with. Ten seconds after Biel’s initial pass, Liel Abada knocked in the equalizer.
However, he’s also found a way to impact the game in the attacking third of the field.
In The Crown’s 2-0 derby win against Atlanta on August 29, Biel found himself on the end of a Maxi pass into the box just outside the goal area. With the ball just a touch too far away from him to accurately shoot, he slid to the ground and deflected the ball to an open Idan Toklomati for Charlotte’s first goal of the game.
“I think a lot of his background as well, where he was brought up in Mallorca in Spain (helped him as a passer),” Smith said. “He'd been playing in tight areas. He would have had to learn really good technical skills, how to maneuver the ball, how to manipulate the ball, how to see runs.”
Biel’s journey from a quick decision to join Charlotte FC to becoming the Club’s all-time goal contributions leader has been marked by consistency and plenty of goal celebrations. In just over two seasons, he has become pivotal to Charlotte’s attack, being praised and rewarded by Smith and the supporters.
As Biel and Charlotte FC continue to write the history of the club, his legacy as the Mallorcan Magician only grows stronger, supporting the ambition and spirit of The Crown.
“He’s really important, he's our little magician,” Smith said. “He just has moments of really good play. He’s got that in abundance, understands the game and really pleased for him (to break the record).”
