Soccer

Alhassan Yusuf’s Hat Trick Secures MLS Player of the Matchday Honors

The New England Revolution midfielder’s three‑goal display against D.C. United rewrites club history and marks a milestone for Nigerian football.

Alhassan Yusuf’s name lit up the headlines after he powered the New England Revolution to a 3‑0 win over D.C. United on Matchday 21 of the 2026 MLS season. The midfielder’s hat trick not only secured three crucial points but also propelled the Revolution to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, solidifying a 33‑point lead with a 10‑7‑3 record.

What made the performance especially noteworthy was that it was Yusuf’s first multi‑goal game in his professional career, and it marked the first time a New England player had recorded a hat trick since Kei Kamara in September 2017. The victory also placed him among an elite group, becoming the eighth different Revolution player to earn a regular‑season hat trick.

A Historic Milestone for the Revolution

The award, decided by a 75 % vote from media outlets in the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) and a 25 % fan vote on Instagram, underscores the significance of his achievement. Yusuf’s three‑goal outing also set a single‑season high of five goals for the team, the second‑most tally of the campaign, and his record extends a lineage of standout performances that includes Aljaz Ivacic’s 2024 accolade.

Joined by teammate Jack Harrison, whose precise headers set up two of the goals in the 23rd and 66th minutes, Yusuf’s display also placed him among an elite group, becoming the first Nigerian‑born player to win the honor since Tani Oluwaseyi in 2023. The Revolution will look to build on this momentum when they host New York City FC at Gillette Stadium on August 23, a match that could further shape the Eastern Conference race.

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