Soccer ForwardSoccer ForwardOpen CupOpen Cup
Volkswagen
Nike
Become An InsiderOfficial Store
Login
U.S. Soccer
  • National Teams
    USWNT
    USMNT
    Youth
    Extended
    USWNT HomeCurrent RosterUSWNT LINEUPS
    ScheduleStoriesUSWNT STATS
    USMNT HomeCurrent RosterUSMNT LineupsUnique USMNT Player number
    Schedule & TicketsStoriesUSMNT StatsUSMNT on tv
    Women
    Under-14 NDPU-15 GNTU-16 GNTU-17 WNTU-18 WNTU-19 WNTU-20 WNTU-23 WNT
    Men
    Under-14 NDPU-15 BNTU-16 BNTU-17 MNTU-18 MNTU-19 MNTU-20 MNTU-23 MNT
    Women
    U.S. WOMEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAMU.S. WOMEN’S FUTSAL NATIONAL TEAMU.S. WOMEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAMU.S. WOMEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM
    Men
    U.S. MEN'S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAMU.S. MEN’S FUTSAL NATIONAL TEAMU.S. MEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAMU.S. MEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM
    Co-Ed
    Power Soccer National Team
  • Schedule & Tickets
    Schedule & Tickets
    Ticketmaster logo
    GROUP ORDERS FAQ
    TICKET FAN AND EVENT FAQ
    MOBILE TICKETING
  • Participate
    Home
    Coaching
    Refereeing
    Safeguarding Hub
    Health and Wellness
    Additional Resources
    Talent IdentificationFederation ServicesOrganization MembersGovernanceU.S. Soccer Alumni Club
  • Initiatives
    Soccer Forward
    Development Fund
    STRATEGIC VISION
    National Training Center
    SHEBELIEVES
    ONE NATION.
    ADAPTandTHRIVE
    Referee Abuse Prevention
Become An InsiderOfficial Store
U.S. Soccer
User profile icon
  • Soccer ForwardSoccer Forward
    Open CupOpen Cup
    Nike
    Volkswagen
Loading...

Go Deeper

Folarin BalogunMNTMale Player of the Year

Related Stories

On the Pitch
September 26, 2025

How Many USMNT Players Competed in Both FIFA U-20 World Cup and Senior World Cups?


On the Pitch
September 25, 2025

USMNT Looks for More Mile High Magic Ahead of World Cup


On the Pitch
September 24, 2025

Why Austin, Texas Has Quickly become a Special Place for the USMNT 

In This Article

Folarin Balogun

Forward

Go Deeper

Folarin BalogunMNTMale Player of the Year

Related Stories

On the Pitch
September 26, 2025

How Many USMNT Players Competed in Both FIFA U-20 World Cup and Senior World Cups?


On the Pitch
September 25, 2025

USMNT Looks for More Mile High Magic Ahead of World Cup


On the Pitch
September 24, 2025

Why Austin, Texas Has Quickly become a Special Place for the USMNT 

Latest Stories

On the Pitch
September 28, 2025

U.S. Open Cup Final Preview: History on Offer for Austin FC or Nashville SC

Open Cup
September 27, 2025

U.S. Open Cup Finalist Spotlight: Austin FC’s Hard Road to Date with Destiny


Open Cup
September 27, 2025

U.S. Open Cup Finalist Spotlight: High Hopes for Callaghan’s Tight-knit Nashville SC


On the Pitch
September 27, 2025

Gavin Beavers Replaces Diego Kochen on U.S. Roster for 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup


On the Pitch
September 26, 2025

How Many USMNT Players Competed in Both FIFA U-20 World Cup and Senior World Cups?


Open Cup
September 26, 2025

Coaches Q&A: First-Year Bosses Eye U.S. Open Cup History for Austin FC and Nashville SC

Latest Videos

image
About U.S. Soccer
History
Governance
Sponsors & Partners
Careers
Media Services
How to report a concern
Fan code of conduct
Fan ticket and event faq
Contact us
Organization members
Federation Services
Brand Protection
Connect with us

Get unrivaled matchday access

App StoreGoogle Play Store
Join the team
Join the team
Join the team
Sign Up For Free
already an insider?Login
COPYRIGHT U.S. SOCCER 2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRIVACY POLICY
CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS
TERMS OF USE
ACCESSIBILITY
Male Player of the Year

Making The Case: Folarin Balogun For U.S. Soccer Male Player Of The Year

Folarin Balogun came home in June, when the dual-national and former England youth player had his one-time change of association request approved by FIFA and declared his intentions to represent the United States at the international level.
December 12, 2023
Image
Image

Folarin Balogun came home in June, when the dual-national and former England youth player had his one-time change of association request approved by FIFA and declared his intentions to represent the United States at the international level. The highly-touted forward and Arsenal academy product made his presence felt in the USMNT attack immediately upon receiving his first call-up, which was one of several moments in 2023 that helped him earn a nomination for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year.

READ MORE: 2023 Male Player of the Year Nominees

Fans will have the opportunity to vote on select Player of the Year Awards, with the fan vote comprising 15% of the total vote. Nominees for all awards are selected by U.S. Soccer’s technical staff. Voting for the awards starts Monday, Dec. 11 and closes on Monday, Dec. 18. The winners will be announced in the weeks that follow.

VOTE NOW: Fan Voting for 2023 Player of the Year Awards

Here are some of the highlight’s from Balogun’s busy calendar year:

  • Balogun made his USMNT debut in the team’s 3-0 win over Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals on June 16. Balogun got the start, frustrated El Tri into committing a red card-worthy foul in the second half, and played 75 minutes in becoming the second USMNT player during the modern era to make his debut in official competition against Mexico.
  • Three days later, in the Nations League Final against Canada, Balogun helped secure the USMNT’s tournament victory by scoring his first senior international goal. In the 34th minute, Balogun showed his strength and precision in holding off defender Scott Kennedy while picking up a feed from Gio Reyna and expertly finishing just outside the six-yard-box to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead it would not relinquish.
  • The goal in the final made Balogun the second USMNT player score his first international goal in a final, joining defender Chris Richards who scored his first international goal in the same match just 22 minutes prior.
  • Balogun was named to the Nations League Best XI team for his contributions to the team’s second-straight title.
  • Balogun started all four of the USMNT’s fall friendlies in September and October, scoring against Oman in a 4-0 victory on Sept. 13, getting his first international assist on the team’s lone goal against Germany on Oct. 14, and scoring again against Ghana in a 4-0 rout on Oct. 18.
  • The 22-year-old was back in the starting lineup for the USMNT’s home-and-away quarterfinal series with Trinidad and Tobago in November, and got his second international assist in the team’s 3-0 home leg victory.
  • Overall, Balogun started in all eight of his international appearances since his debut on June 16, scoring three goals and adding a pair of assists.

Three goals in 12 minutes 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/9qEq69iIIT

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) October 18, 2023
  • Balogun’s abilities at both the club and international level prompted AS Monaco of France’s Ligue 1 to offer up a $30 million transfer fee to Arsenal in order to acquire his services in August.
  • Prior to the transfer, Balogun had been playing on loan in France at Reims, where a productive spring saw him finish the 2022/23 club season as Ligue 1’s fourth-highest scorer with 21 goals. Balogun’s goal haul was just behind that of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (29), Olympique Lyon’s Alexander Lacazette (27) and LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David (24).
  • Since joining AS Monaco, Balogun has been a regular in the team’s attack. To date, he’s appeared in 10 of 13 league matches, scored four times and assisted on three occasions. His brightest moment came on Sept. 30 against Olympique Marseille, when he scored the match-leveling goal and assisted on the winner in a 3-2 victory.

This is Balogun’s first nomination for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year and it comes in his first year of eligibility.