United States striker Folarin Balogun says he is aiming to reach the elite level of “inevitable” goalscorers like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, as he continues his breakout FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign.
Speaking at the US training camp on Monday, Balogun, who has scored twice at the FIFA 2026 World Cup, said he dreams of winning the Golden Boot but admitted it is difficult to keep pace with football’s most prolific stars.
Read Also: World Cup 2026: Balogun brace powers U.S. to 4-1 win over Paraguay
His comments came as Lionel Messi extended his record as the all-time leading World Cup scorer, netting his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament against Austria.
“I think it’s annoying!” Balogun said. “Seeing players like Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland, they’re so inevitable. They’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more.”
“For me, it’s about trying to get to that level, to be inevitable as well, to be consistent. I’m sure I’ve got the potential to do that.”
Balogun currently plays for Monaco. He finished as the club’s top scorer last season with 19 goals following a reported €40 million move.
He has carried that form into the World Cup, scoring twice in the United States’ opening win over Paraguay, helping fuel growing optimism around the co-hosts.
However, his pursuit of individual and team success could face complications. With the US already guaranteed top spot in Group D, coach Mauricio Pochettino may rotate his squad for Thursday’s clash with Turkey.
Balogun is also one booking away from suspension after picking up a yellow card against Australia, meaning another caution would rule him out of the Round of 32.
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