{{short description|Swiss footballer (born 2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography | name = Nikolas Muci | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Nikolas Marcel Cristiano Muci | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|2|8}} | birth_place = Lenzburg, Switzerland | height = 1.80 m | position = Forward | currentclub = Mantova<br>(on loan from Grasshopper) | clubnumber = 11 | youthyears1 = 2011 | youthclubs1 = FC Riva | youthyears2 = 2011–2014 | youthclubs2 = Mendrisio | youthyears3 = 2014–2021 | youthclubs3 = Lugano | years1 = 2021–2022 | clubs1 = Lugano U21 | caps1 = 20 | goals1 = 13 | years2 = 2021–2024 | clubs2 = Lugano | caps2 = 10 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2022–2024 | clubs3 = → Wil (loan) | caps3 = 67 | goals3 = 19 | years4 = 2024– | clubs4 = Grasshopper | caps4 = 54 | goals4 = 10 | years5 = 2026– | clubs5 = → Mantova (loan) | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2019 | nationalteam1 = Switzerland U16 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 2019 | nationalteam2 = Switzerland U17 | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2021 | nationalteam3 = Switzerland U19 | nationalcaps3 = 6 | nationalgoals3 = 1 | nationalyears4 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam4 = Switzerland U20 | nationalcaps4 = 4 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 2023–2024 | nationalteam5 = Switzerland U21 | nationalcaps5 = 10 | nationalgoals5 = 2 | pcupdate = 13 May 2026 | ntupdate = 15 October 2024 }}
'''Nikolas Marcel Cristiano Muci''' (born 8 February 2003) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a forward for Italian {{Italian football updater|Mantova}} side Mantova on loan from Grasshopper in the Swiss Super League.<ref name="soccerway">{{soccerway}}</ref>
==Professional career== Muci made his professional debut with Lugano in a 2–1 Swiss Super League win over FC Luzern on 21 May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2021/05/21/switzerland/super-league/fc-luzern/fc-lugano/3444329/|title=Luzern vs. Lugano - 21 May 2021 - Soccerway|website=ca.soccerway.com}}</ref> On 1 June 2021, he signed a four-year contract with Lugano until 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fclugano.com/il-talento-ticinese-nikolas-muci-altri-quattro-anni-in-bianconero/|title=Il talento ticinese Nikolas Muci altri quattro anni in bianconero|date=June 1, 2021}}</ref>
On 23 June 2022, Muci moved on a two-year loan to Wil.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FC Wil|url=https://fcwil.ch/2022/06/23/nikolas-muci-wechselt-zum-fc-wil-1900/|title=Nikolas Muci wechselt zum FC Wil 1900|date=23 June 2022|access-date=28 June 2022|language=de}}</ref> During his time at Wil, he established himself as an important player, making 72 appearances and scoring 20 goals in his two year loan spell.<ref name=soccerway>{{soccerway}}</ref>
On 28 June 2024, he signed for Swiss Super League record champions Grasshopper Club Zürich on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zürich|url=https://www.gcz.ch/en/news/article/1/gc-zurich-signs-current-u21-national-striker-nikolas-muci/|title=GC Zurich signs current U21 national striker Nikolas Muci|date=28 June 2024|access-date=28 June 2024|language=en}}</ref> In the first game of the season, on 20 July 2024, he was nominated in the starting lineup, against his former club Lugano, no less.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zürich|url=https://www.gcz.ch/news/artikel/17/niederlage-zum-start-der-saison/|title=Niederlage zum Start der Saison|trans-title=Defeat at the start of the season|date=20 July 2024|access-date=29 July 2024|language=de-ch}}</ref> On 27 July 2024, he scored the 1–1 equalizer against FC Luzern, in a match that would eventually end 2–2.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zürich|url=https://www.gcz.ch/news/artikel/1/punkteteilung-mit-luzern/|title=Punkteteilung mit Luzern|trans-title=Shared points with Lucerne|date=27 July 2024|access-date=29 July 2024|language=de-ch}}</ref> It was his first goal for Grasshoppers and his first ever goal in the Swiss top flight, in only his second start for his new team and third overall in the Super League.<ref name="soccerway"/> As a result, he was voted by the fans as the best Grasshopper player of July 2024.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zürich|url=https://www.gcz.ch/en/news/article/1/nikolas-muci-is-player-of-the-month-july/|title=Nikolas Muci is Player of the Month JUly|date=6 August 2024|access-date=6 August 2024|language=en}}</ref>
On 3 February 2026, he moved to Italy to join Mantova on loan for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikolas Muci per Leihe zu Mantova 1911 |url=https://www.gcz.ch/news/artikel/1/nikolas-muci-per-leihe-zu-mantova-1911/|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zurich |access-date=3 February 2026 |language=de-ch |date=3 February 2026}}</ref> The loan deal also includes an option to join the struggling Serie B side permanently.
==International career== He is a youth international for Switzerland, having represented the Switzerland U16, U17,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nau.ch/sport/fussball/nikolas-muci-verschlaft-die-schweiz-ein-sturmer-talent-65889690|title=Nikolas Muci: Verschläft die Schweiz ein Stürmer-Talent?|first=Mischi|last=Wettstein|website=Nau}}</ref> U20, and U21.<ref name=soccerway/> He scored two goals in the U21's U21 Euro qualification campaign.
==Personal life== Born in Switzerland, Muci holds Swiss, Italian and German passports. Muci is German descent through his mother. His brother, Alexander, is also a professional footballer in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecodellosport.ch/stories/412/sport/il-mio-ruolo-e-semplicemente-di-stargli-vicino|title="Il mio ruolo è semplicemente di stargli vicino"|date=March 21, 2021|website=Eco dello Sport}}</ref>
==Honours== '''Lugano''' *Swiss Cup: 2021–22<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsi.ch/sport/calcio/Tripudio-bianconero-la-Coppa-%C3%A8-del-Lugano-15328390.html|title=Tripudio bianconero, la Coppa è del Lugano!|first=RSI Radiotelevisione|last=svizzera|website=rsi}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|nikolas-marcel-cristiano-muci/697472}} * [https://www.sfl.ch/fr/superleague/clubs/fc-lugano/player/nikolas-marcel-cristiano-muci/season/202122/ SFL Profile] * [https://www.football.ch/SFV/Nationalteams/U-16/Team.aspx/t-41647/p-879490/ SFV U16 Profile] * [https://www.football.ch/SFV/Nationalteams/U-17/Team.aspx/t-41646/p-879490/ SFV U17 Profile]
<!--{{Grasshopper Club Zürich squad}}--> {{Mantova 1911 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muci, Nikolas}} Category:2003 births Category:People from Lenzburg Category:Footballers from Aargau Category:Living people Category:21st-century Swiss sportsmen Category:Swiss people of Italian descent Category:Swiss people of German descent Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Swiss men's footballers Category:Switzerland men's youth international footballers Category:Switzerland men's under-21 international footballers Category:FC Lugano players Category:FC Wil players Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich players Category:Mantova 1911 players Category:Swiss Super League players Category:Swiss 1. Liga (football) players Category:2. Liga Interregional players Category:Serie B players Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Italy