Folarin Balogun is ‘walking on water’ at Monaco, with his status as Europe’s most in-form attacker confirmed on Sunday with a brilliant winner against Marseille. His resurgence after a difficult campaign could not be better timed for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT.
Balogun had been in the grip of a disappointing campaign until mid-February, but he has since gone on a tear that suggests the former Arsenal youngster can have a defining impact for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup.
After Mauricio Pochettino’s side were left reeling by comprehensive losses against Belgium (5-2) and Portugal (2-0) in March friendlies, the Argentine has been forced into a tactical rethink before the competition starts in mid-June. Balogun is proving he deserves to be front and centre of these plans.
Across his last eight matches for Monaco, Balogun has scored eight times. Only in the Champions League playoff second leg against Paris Saint-Germain did he fail to net.
Prior to this, his season was spiralling towards mediocrity. He had only eight goals and four assists to his name in 29 appearances. Now, he is one of Europe’s hottest players.
What’s changed?
Balogun has been the chief benefactor of Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli’s tactical shift to a 3-4-3 system. It seemed a last roll of the dice by an under-fire boss, but it’s been one that has led to the American rediscovering his scoring touch at the forefront of a side that can do no wrong.
But there’s more than this. Former Belgium international striker Kevin Mirallas arrived at the club charged with a coaching role to rejuvenate the club’s misfiring forwards.
“He’s working hard with Kevin on certain aspects of his finishing, so he’s becoming more and more complete in what’s asked of him,” Pocognoli explained in mid-March, just as Balogun’s run was getting going.
“Balogun is much more focused on reacting to a good or bad action. When he is doing well in the game, he remains consistent, and when he misses an opportunity, he manages to have a positive reaction. It’s a lot of work that doesn’t happen in a week, and it’s something he’s working on with Kevin.”
This is something the player also admits.
“He gives me confidence every day, talks to me, and tells me that the most important thing for a striker is to focus on the next opportunity,” the New York-born star said.
“I immediately had a good relationship with Kevin. He talked to me, tried to exchange ideas with me and help me improve, I felt it. As a striker, you can really appreciate that.”
Balogun is ‘walking on water’
Monaco have won five straight games in all competitions and seven straight in Ligue 1. Balogun has netted in their last six league games – the longest ongoing active streak in Europe’s Top 5 leagues and only two short of Kylian Mbappe’s 2025/26 record of eight.
French sports paper L’Equipe commented: “Right now… he’s walking on water and wiping out opposing defences.”
His best effort arrived on Sunday against OM. After showing power and speed to get clear of CJ Egan-Riley after a loose error from Benjamin Pavard, Balogun showed grace and poise with a delicate chip shot from an angle that seemed impossible to perform such a skill.
“We know he can score goals at any moment. I told him it was one of the most beautiful goals I’ve seen in my career,” Monaco’s Lamine Camara told the media after the game.
Peaking at the right moment
While Balogun’s immediate target will be firing Monaco back into the Champions League – goals in the upcoming fixtures against Paris FC and Auxerre would see him equal Mbappe’s scoring streak for the campaign – the World Cup no doubt looms large in his mind.
Pochettino’s preparations have clearly not gone to plan as yet, but with his No.9 in such predatory form, there is at least one reason for the Argentine to be optimistic.
