The Rise of Idan Toklomati

By Sebastian Quiroz-Gutierrez

Photo courtesy of TopBin90

On a historic Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte FC stood tall against the brightest spotlight Major League Soccer can offer. Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi leading the line, came to town looking to halt the Crown’s winning run. Instead, it became the night Idan Toklomati announced himself to the league at large.

After Messi’s first-half penalty attempt was denied by goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte seized the momentum. Just two minutes later, Toklomati found the net, igniting the home crowd. He struck again early in the second half, linking up with Wilfried Zaha and Brandt Bronico, before finishing his statement performance with a penalty in the 84th minute—handed to him graciously by Zaha. The 21-year-old completed his first MLS hat trick, sealing a 3–0 victory and Charlotte’s ninth straight win, tying the MLS post-shootout era record.

With the win, Charlotte FC remain firmly in third place in the Eastern Conference and are now one match away from making league history. For Toklomati, it was the crowning moment in a breakout season that has turned him from prospect to indispensable star.

From Petah Tikva to the Queen City

Toklomati’s story begins thousands of miles away in Petah Tikva, Israel. A product of Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C.’s youth academy, he first turned heads in the 2022–23 season of the Liga Leumit, Israel’s second division. At just 18 years old, Toklomati scored 11 goals, driving Maccabi Petah Tikva’s push for promotion. His blend of pace, movement, and finishing made him a nightmare for defenders—and earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting young players in Israel.

The next season, 2023–24, brought new challenges in the Israeli Premier League. Facing tougher defenses and more seasoned opponents, Toklomati still managed to notch five goals and one assist in his first top-flight campaign. His blend of speed, sharp movement, and creativity made him difficult to pin down, and international scouts began to take notice. One of those watching closely was Thomas Schaling, Charlotte FC’s former Director of Scouting. For him, Toklomati was more than just a promising finisher. 

“Idan has some trickery to him in addition to the capability to accelerate with and without the ball… He’s also smart in his ability to link up with others and can play with his back to goal,” Schaling said. “We saw him as a player that is dangerous in and around the box with his sharp movement and decision-making.”

Making His Mark in America

Charlotte FC had been tracking Toklomati since 2022. In 2024, the club finally brought him into its system, slotting him first with Crown Legacy FC, its MLS NEXT Pro affiliate. Toklomati wasted no time: in just five matches, he scored three goals and added an assist, quickly convincing the first team staff he was ready for more.

By September 2024, he made his MLS debut, earning a single appearance as Charlotte finished the season. It was a brief introduction, but it set the stage for what would become a transformative 2025 campaign.

Breakout in 2025

The current season has seen Toklomati explode into the spotlight. In 26 MLS appearances, he has scored 11 goals and tallied three assists, leading the team in goals. More importantly, his output has aligned perfectly with Charlotte’s rise up the table.

During the club’s remarkable nine-game winning streak, Toklomati has scored eight times, including notable game-winners against New England and Real Salt Lake, and most recently, his first career hat trick against Inter Miami.

Toklomati himself was almost at a loss for words after the Miami performance. “I feel amazing. I cannot explain my feeling right now,” he said. “After I scored two, we get a penalty, and I look at Wilf and he says, ‘you want a hat trick?’ I look back at him, like, ‘oh my god, he’s an angel.’ I looked at him like an angel. After I scored the hat trick, I almost lost my mind. It was the best feeling I ever had.”

For Toklomati, the setting only amplified the moment. Scoring three times against Messi’s Miami while extending Charlotte’s winning streak to nine games left him almost overwhelmed. “First of all, that is the best moment and best team to play against to score a hat trick,” he said. “We are playing well and standing on nine games in a row when we win. I cannot even explain the feeling.”

Inside the club, Toklomati has quickly become indispensable. Sporting Director Zoran Krneta has been blunt about his value: “Toklomati is not for sale … It would take an MLS record sale, ever, to move Toklomati.”

The Connector

Unlike Patrick Agyemang, the powerful striker sold earlier this summer, Toklomati thrives on connection. Charlotte’s sporting director Krneta emphasized the chemistry he has built with his teammates: “This team right now, the way we play, [Idan] fits better … he connects really well with Pep, with Wilf, with Abada, with Westwood … this connectivity is a little bit better with Idan.”

Dean Smith has also leaned heavily into this dynamic, using Toklomati not just as a finisher, but as the link in Charlotte’s attacking chain. His ability to combine with the midfield, drift wide when needed, and still arrive in the box at the right moments has been critical. That versatility has made him irreplaceable in Charlotte’s attack.

The Versatile Striker 

Part of what makes Toklomati so valuable is his hybrid profile. Schaling described it best: “If you look at the top players around the world that can play well on the wing and at striker, there’s only a few… we feel that having him as a versatile attacking prospect that can play both positions right now is very interesting to have at our Club.”

While Patrick Agyemang offered raw pace and direct power, Toklomati thrives on movement and connection. He’s comfortable drifting into the channels, but equally dangerous between the posts. His duality gives Smith tactical flexibility and makes Charlotte harder to predict.

International Pedigree

Toklomati’s rise in MLS hasn’t come out of nowhere. At 21, his international resume is already impressive. He has earned over 30 youth caps for Israel, playing important roles in squads that reached the semifinals of the 2023 UEFA Under-21 Championship and finished runners-up in the 2022 Under-19 Euros. At the senior level, he has four caps, having debuted in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers.

This international experience has sharpened his game and given him the confidence to step into MLS without hesitation.

Looking Ahead

Charlotte’s historic run now stands at nine consecutive wins, tying the Seattle Sounders’ 2018 mark for the longest winning streak in the post-shootout era. Their next chance to make history comes on Saturday, September 20th, when they travel to face New York City FC at noon. A win would put Charlotte alone atop the MLS record books with 10 straight victories.

For Idan Toklomati, already Charlotte’s leading scorer in just his first full MLS season, it’s another opportunity to add to a breakout campaign that shows no signs of slowing down.