Benjamin
Kikanovic
F
#28
Benjamin Kikanovic
San Jose EarthquakesHeight : 6' 0" · Weight : 163 lbs · Age : 26
MLS record
| Year | Team | FC | FA | RC | YC | OG | APP | SUB | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current season | San Jose Earthquakes | 26 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
- 2026 guaranteed comp.
- 479 k$
- Base salary
- 442 k$
- Rank on the club
- #8 of 29
Guaranteed compensation: base salary plus signing bonuses and other guaranteed money, annualized; performance bonuses are not included. Contract length is not made public.
Advanced stats, 2026 Fullbacks
MLS stats →2026 season, in progress (1,896 minutes played). The percentile ranks the player among regular fullbacks (1,000+ minutes over a full season): 90th means better than 90% of them.
Goals
0
23th percentile
Assists
0
16th percentile
Expected goals (xG)
1.2
72th percentile
Expected assists (xA)
1.4
51th percentile
Goals − xG
−1.2
6th percentile
Key passes
14
61th percentile
Pass completion
75.2 %
10th percentile
Passes over expected
+2.1 /100
75th percentile
g+ per 90
+0.02
78th percentile
Minutes
1,896
Regular season. xG: expected goals from chance quality; xA: expected assists. Passes over expected: completed passes above expectation, per 100 passes, given their difficulty. g+: goals added, above the position average. Data: American Soccer Analysis.
2027 projection
MLS trends →Projected WAR
0.1
Confidence: medium · based on the backtest and minutes played
Projected minutes
1,567
WAR 2026
0.2
Minutes played
1,896
The pace of the last three seasons (WAR per minute, 60/25/15), pulled toward the group average as if 1,000 more minutes, over the minutes expected from the last two seasons, adjusted for age. Method chosen by backtest (2023 to 2026): mean error of 0.24 wins.
Trend
→ Stable (0)
- 2023-0.1 WAR · -0.36 per 3,000 min
- 2024-0.1 WAR · -0.22 per 3,000 min
- 20250.0 WAR · 0.00 per 3,000 min
- 20260.2 WAR · 0.32 per 3,000 min
The trend compares this season's WAR per 3,000 minutes with last season's (at least 500 minutes each), weighted by playing time.
Outlook, age included
+10 · 26 y.o. · prime years
It is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, transfers or role changes.
Player ratings, 2026
All ratings →Ratings from 0 to 100, computed over four seasons from data, never by hand, against regulars in the same position group. 75 = established regular, 87 = 90th percentile, 95+ = elite. EX counts his MLS seasons since 2021, from our data: his career elsewhere is not included.
OV · Overall
69
Depth player
- DEF
- Defending
- 69
- PAS
- Passing
- 81
- VIS
- Vision
- 74
- DRI
- Dribbling
- 64
- DIS
- Discipline
- 78
- DUR
- Durability
- 70
- EX
- Experience
- 76
Why these ratings?Hide details
- DEF — Defending : Goals added by interrupting (tackles, interceptions, clearances)
- PAS — Passing : Goals added by passing, passes completed over expected
- VIS — Vision : Expected assists and key passes per 90
- DRI — Dribbling : Goals added by carrying the ball
- DIS — Discipline : Goals added by fouls drawn and avoided
- DUR — Durability : Share of his club's minutes played, over several seasons
- EX — Experience : MLS seasons since 2021 (our data)
WAR and PAL Rating, 2026
How we rate →WAR: the goals added (g+) of each of his actions, above replacement level (the per-minute output of his group's fringe players), converted to standings points (0.64 points per goal), then to wins (3 points = one win). PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against regulars in the same group (50 = median).
WAR
0.2
#18 of 89 regular fullbacks
+1.2 goals above replacement
PAL Rating
61 / 100
#35 of 89 regular fullbacks
Value Rating · 2026
Sporting contract value
71 / 100
The surplus: his 2026 WAR (0.2) × the price of a win ($3.6M), minus his 2026 guaranteed compensation, against other fullbacks. Commercial value (tickets, sponsors, media rights) is not counted.Salary$479KSurplus+$249KWAR paid0.13PAL: dimensions
Where WAR comes from (in wins)
Getting open and receiving the ball in dangerous areas.
The value of his shots: the quality of the chance and what he makes of it.
Fouls drawn (free kicks, penalties won) minus fouls committed.
Breaking up the opponent's play: tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocked shots.
How his passes change his team's chances of scoring and conceding.
Carrying the ball and beating defenders, minus the balls lost.
The parts above are measured against the position average. This adjustment moves the baseline to a fringe player in his group, prorated by minutes: positive when fringe players do worse than average, negative when they do better.
| Season | Team | Min | WAR | PAL | OV | G | A | xG | xA | g+/90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | SJ | 1,896 | 0.2 | 61 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | +0.02 |
| 2025 | SJ | 464 | 0.0 | 35 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | −0.02 |
| 2024 | SJ | 1,391 | -0.1 | 4 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | −0.06 |
| 2023 | SJ | 837 | -0.1 | 5 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 0.2 | −0.10 |
| 2022 | SJ | 1,501 | -0.1 | 11 | 68 | 6 | 3 | 3.6 | 0.9 | −0.05 |
Benjamin Kikanovic in five questions
How many goals does Benjamin Kikanovic have in 2026?
Benjamin Kikanovic has 0 goals and 0 assists in 1,896 minutes in 2026 (expected goals: 1.2).
How old and how tall is Benjamin Kikanovic?
Benjamin Kikanovic is 26 years old. He is 6'0" (183 cm) and weighs 163 lb (74 kg).
How good is Benjamin Kikanovic?
Benjamin Kikanovic produced 0.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2026, 26th of 89 players at his position in the MLS. His PAL rating is 61 out of 100: above average for his position.
How much does Benjamin Kikanovic make?
Benjamin Kikanovic earns $479K for the 2026 season. His Value Rating (on-field contract efficiency) is 71 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position; the player's commercial value is not part of it.
What number does Benjamin Kikanovic wear, and what team does he play for?
Benjamin Kikanovic plays for San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS, at F, and wears number 28.
