Folarin Balogun is on pace for history with Monaco and a Ligue 1 record within reach

With less than two months to go until World Cup 2026 gets underway, one of Europe’s most in-form strikers is American.

USMNT attacker Folarin Balogun was again on target for Monaco against Auxerre on Sunday, with the 24-year-old’s 10th goal in 10 games in all competitions for his club. The run has him closing in on a Ligue 1 record.

Balogun chases Ligue 1 history

Balogun’s strike means he has now scored in eight consecutive games in France’s top flight, the second-longest streak in the division since the turn of the century.

If the New York City-born forward scores in Monaco’s upcoming league fixtures away to Toulouse and Metz, and at home to Lille, he will equal Sonny Anderson’s run of scoring in 11 straight matches for Lyon in 2001.

If he then finds the net in the final Ligue 1 game of the season away to Strasbourg, he will hold the record outright.

How many goals has Balogun scored for Monaco this season?

The striker has been in strong form all season, scoring 18 goals in 39 games in all competitions for Monaco, including 12 in 26 Ligue 1 matches. That places him as the division’s joint-fourth top scorer, ahead of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who has 10 goals in 18 appearances.

Balogun already finished the 2022-23 season as Ligue 1’s fourth top scorer, behind Kylian Mbappé, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David, after scoring 21 times during a season-long loan at Reims from Arsenal.

Balogun chooses USMNT over England, Nigeria

Born in New York to Nigerian parents, Balogun moved with his family to England when he was just a month old and grew up in London.

Although he represented England from Under-17 to Under-21 level, he also played for the United States U18 team and ultimately committed to the USMNT in 2023.

To date, Balogun has scored eight goals in 25 caps for the United States and was included in squads for the 2023 Concacaf Nations League finals and the 2024 Copa América.

Boosted by his recent form, he will hope to establish himself as the USMNT’s starting striker at the upcoming World Cup.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.