As World Cup debuts go, Folarin Balogun's could not have been much more memorable. On Friday night, the Monaco striker scored twice as the United States steamrollered Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium, scoring 4+ in a World Cup game for the very first time.
Balogun stroked home his first, and USA's second, after being set up by Christian Pulisic, who was absolutely electric. Balogun's second in first half injury time was even more spectacular, played in-behind by Malik Tillman, dancing around Omar Alderete before lashing into the top corner with his left foot. The 24 year old switched his allegiance to USA just after the previous World Cup in Qatar, and the addition of a top-class centre-forward could make all the difference for the Stars and Stripes.
His brace in Los Angeles saw Balogun become only the second-ever American to score more than once in a World Cup match. The other was Bert Patenaude, who bagged all three during a 3-0 victory over, coincidentally enough, Paraguay during the first-ever World Cup in Montevideo in 1930. So, after just one match at the tournament, where does Balogun rank on the USA's all-time record World Cup scorers chart?
USMNT players to score multiple World Cup goals
Players | World Cups featured at | World Cup caps | World Cup goals |
|---|---|---|---|
Landon Donovan | 2002, '06 & '10 | 12 | 5 |
Bert Patenaude | 1930 | 3 | 4 |
Clint Dempsey | 2006, '10 & '14 | 10 | 4 |
Brian McBride | 1998, '02 & '06 | 10 | 3 |
Folarin Balogun | 2026 | 1 | 2 |
John Souza | 1950 | 3 | 2 |
Note: Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.
In their World Cup history, the United States have now scored 44 goals in 38 matches, but only six men have ever scored more than one at the tournament for the Stars and Stripes. 2022 scorers Tim Weah, Pulisic and Haji Wright could join this group by finding the net this summer, as could Gio Reyna, after his dazzling outside of the boot finish in California.
In terms of Balogun, considering the form he showed against Paraguay, Landon Donovan's total of five World Cup goals could be in his sights in the coming weeks. When it comes to most goals in a single World Cup campaign, well the 24 year old might just equal the USA's all-time record as soon as next Friday against Australia in Seattle.
USMNT players most goals at a single World Cup
Players | World Cup | Goals at that edition |
|---|---|---|
Bert Patenaude | 1930 | 4 |
Landon Donovan | 2010 | 3 |
John Souza | 1950 | 2 |
Brian McBride | 2002 | 2 |
Landon Donovan | 2002 | 2 |
Clint Dempsey | 2014 | 2 |
Folarin Balogun | 2026 | 2 |
Only the aforementioned Bert Patenaude in 1930 and Landon Donovan 80 years later have ever scored more than twice for the U.S. at a single World Cup. In South Africa 16 years ago, Donovan was on target against Slovenia, before scoring the famous last-gasp winner against Algeria, also netting in vain as Bob Bradley's team were dumped out in the last 16 after extra time by Ghana in Rustenburg.
Thus, two more goals for Balogun this summer would see him match the all-time record set almost a century ago. To conclude the group stages, Mauricio Pochettino's team will face Australia and then Türkiye, almost assured of having at least one more knockout game thereafter already. So, how far can the co-hosts go?
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