Balogun's Rollercoaster Rise | Oakland News

Oakland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 7, 2026 · 1m

Folarin Balogun, the U.S. Men’s National Team’s top scorer at the World Cup with three goals, is riding a wave of momentum — despite a controversial red card that led to a suspension, later softened by FIFA into a one-year probation. Born in Brooklyn to a Nigerian mother who couldn’t return to England during his birth, Balogun automatically gained U.S. citizenship — a path his mom always believed was meant to be. Now starring for AS Monaco in France, he’s drawn admiration from icons like LeBron James, whom he sees as a symbol of cross-sport unity. After weighing options with England and…