Folarin Balogun
#9 · Forward · age 25
Likely starting No. 9; switched from England in 2023
Club
Monaco
France · Ligue 1
Caps
25
Intl goals
6
72
WC26 rating
high confidence
- Recent form
- 43
- Career peak
- 55
- League level
- 88
- Competition pedigree
- 80
- International pedigree
- 74
- Longevity
- 64
Independent rating — league strength (Opta-anchored) × competition tier × position-normalized output. Not affiliated with EA or FIFA.
Career by season
Source: sofascore · fetched 2026-05-29
Balogun is the most likely starting No. 9 and the player who makes the US tactical model work — a striker who runs the channels lets Pulisic and Tillman play closer to goal. Ricardo Pepi is the impact-sub alternative.
Strengths
- off-shoulder runs in behind
- two-footed finishing
- link play to drop and turn
Recent form
Regular Ligue 1 minutes at Monaco through 2025-26; double-figure goals.
Eligible for England, Nigeria, and the US — chose the US after Gregg Berhalter's pitch in 2023.