United States striker Folarin Balogun has revealed that he draws inspiration from football superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, whose remarkable scoring consistency he described as both frustrating and motivating.
Speaking with reporters during a training session, Balogun said the ability of the game’s elite forwards to score regularly serves as motivation for him to improve and reach a similar level.
The forward also expressed his ambition to continue climbing the scoring charts and establish himself among the leading goalscorers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“I think it’s annoying!” joked Balogun. “Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland — they’re so inevitable. I think they’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more.”
“For me, it’s just about trying to get to that level — to be inevitable as well, to be consistent. And I’m sure I’ve got the potential in me to do that.”
As he pursues the tournament’s top scorers, including Messi, who recently set a new all-time World Cup scoring record, Balogun acknowledged the need to balance aggression with caution, having already picked up a yellow card ahead of the knockout stages.
“That is the sort of player I am,” he said.
“I think the most important thing for a professional athlete in any sport is to be available. I’m no different, so, of course, I want to play.
“But it’s also important to be smart. I wouldn’t want to pick up a yellow card and miss the round of 32.
“Hopefully the further we go, the more opportunities I have to score.
“I mean, any goal in the World Cup is something that’s going to be cherished forever.”
Balogun said his focus remains on helping the United States progress in the tournament while continuing his pursuit of goals on football’s biggest stage.
