AS Monaco’s Folarin Balogun nominated for the title of American Player of the Year!

The Monaco forward, credited with two decisive assists in the last match against Rennes (a 1-2 victory), is among the finalists for the 2023 American Player of the Year award, as announced by the US Football Federation. He currently stands as AS Monaco’s second most influential player in Ligue 1, on par with Aleksandr Golovin. Once again influential during the win on Stade Rennais’ turf (1-2), being involved in both Monaco goals with the final pass, Folarin Balogun is rewarded for his outstanding 2023. 

The Monaco number 29 has been named among the finalists for the “American Player of the Year.”

This honorary title thus recognizes the most outstanding American player in 2023, both at the club and national team levels. After finishing as the fourth-highest goal scorer in the top flight last season with Stade de Reims (21 goals), in his debut year in the French league, the young forward has since confirmed his capabilities early this season. Now involved in seven goals since joining the Principality’s club (4 goals and 3 assists), Balo’ has become a key player in Adi Hütter’s system.

He has not only made a mark at the club level but also earned his first caps with Team USA this year. Called up for the first time during the CONCACAF Nations League, he not only played but also won the competition, even scoring his first goal in the final! Since then, Folarin has accumulated 8 appearances with the “Stars and Stripes,” scoring a total of three goals.

Born in the United States to Nigerian parents and raised in England, Balogun was eligible to represent any of the three nations at international level. After playing for England at the under-17 level, and appearing in the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, he accepted a call up from the United States under-18 national team in August 2018 for a training camp and a tournament in the Czech Republic.He played in all four of the United States’ games in the Václav Ježek Youth Tournament and scored twice. Since then he has regularly represented the “Stars and Stripes” national team. 

Naturally, he is among the shortlisted finalists for the 2023 American Player of the Year award. He will be competing for this title alongside his compatriots Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, and Matt Turner. We obviously wish him good luck.