Bongokuhle Hlongwane

Hlongwane joined Minnesota United ahead of the 2022 season as a U22 player after spending his professional career in South Africa with Maritzburg United.

Hlongwane played a crucial part in the defensive line in the 2025 MLS season, primarily featuring as a right back. He led the club in appearances this season with 44 (36 starts) and added five goals and three assists across all competitions. Hlongwane now sits behind Robin Lod (39) as the club’s top scorer with 35 goals. He also made his 150th club appearance in the second game of the First Round of the MLS Playoffs in Seattle.

During the 2024 campaign, “Bongi” continued his scoring ways, earning himself a spot in the Starting XI for MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 30 after his stellar performance against the San Jose Earthquakes, where he bagged a brace in a much-needed 2–1 victory to keep Minnesota in the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. He notably scored his eighth and ninth goals, recording his second MLS regular-season brace. The South African forward played in his 100th match across all competitions against FC Cincinnati on September 18. Hlongwane then went on to score his 10th goal of the regular season against St. Louis CITY SC, an MLS career high, becoming the fifth different Minnesota United player to record a double-digit scoring season and the third in the last three years. He ended the 2024 regular season leading the club in goals scored (11) while providing a total of four assists.

He put on quite the show during the 2023 season, especially in the 2023 Leagues Cup tournament. Hlongwane was the runner-up to Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) for the Golden Boot after notching seven goals. He secured a brace in both Group Stage matches against Club Puebla (LIGA MX) and Chicago Fire FC, another against Columbus Crew in the Round of 32, and a single goal against Deportivo Toluca. Coupled with his scoring streak in Leagues Cup, Hlongwane scored eight goals in the 2023 regular season, just behind Teemu Pukki, the team’s leading scorer. He also scored two goals in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.

In 2022, Bongi was part of the attacking quartet that had the Loons on a 13-game scoring streak from June 19 through August 27. He scored his two goals of the year in that timeframe, netting his first at the Houston Dynamo, which earned him an MLS Team of the Week appearance. He scored his second goal the following game in a 4–4 draw at Allianz Field against the Portland Timbers. He finished the season third on the team in assists with four. Hlongwane missed the final matches of the regular season due to injury but returned to the starting lineup for the club’s 2022 MLS Cup Playoff match at FC Dallas.

He made his professional debut at age 18 and scored eight goals while providing seven assists across four seasons. The attacker scored his first professional goal in June 2019 against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. Hlongwane was nominated for the South African Premier Division Player of the Season award for the 2020–21 season.

INTERNATIONAL: The South African international made his national team debut in 2019 and has scored four goals in 15 appearances. He scored his first international goal in 2021 against Uganda and added the game-winning goal against Ghana in a World Cup Qualifier.