Balogun Stars for the U.S. After an Unusual Path Into the National Team

Folarin Balogun, the former Arsenal striker and U.S. international, scored twice overnight in a 3-0 first-half rout of Paraguay. The article says his rise with the United States has been as unusual as it has been effective, and that he is now viewed as a striker for the present and future.

Balogun was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, moved to Britain with his family at one month old, and was eligible to represent the U.S., England or Nigeria. He played for England at every youth level, scoring seven goals for the Under-21s, before choosing his senior team in 2023. According to the report, American fans flooded his Instagram with U.S. flags and messages, while Athletico described an attempt to recruit him that turned viral. Balogun said he received tens of thousands of messages from American supporters and was surprised by how popular soccer is in the country.

The deciding factor was a dinner with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and goalkeeper Matt Turner, the national team leaders. At the same time, Orlando Magic and the New York Yankees even offered him courtside seats in a bid to lure him to the national team. Balogun came through Arsenal’s academy, but made only two senior appearances there before loan spells at Middlesbrough and Reims, where he scored 21 goals in 37 matches. Monaco bought him in 2023 for 40 million euros.

After two seasons alternating between the starting lineup and the bench, and a spell of injuries, he has become a key player this season with 13 goals in 30 appearances. His output includes a winning goal against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League and a brace against Paris Saint-Germain. At 1.77 meters, Balogun is seen as a quick, versatile finisher, a valuable fit for a U.S. side built around creators like Pulisic and McKennie. The article says he is the first player to score a brace in his World Cup debut for the U.S. and that, with five, Landon Donovan remains the team’s all-time World Cup scoring leader.