Folarin Balogun: Monaco Striker Returns Just in Time

Balogun had come off the bench since his return, but manager Adi Hütter tapped the 23-year-old to be in the starting 11 against ASSE, and he was rewarded with the forward contributing the insurance goal that they needed to secure the win and all three points.

Following the match against Saint-Étienne, Balogun noted to the club’s official website that the one emotion he had as the Monaco standout was his eagerness to return to help his teammates in this final stretch of the season.

“It’s always difficult to return to 100% when you injure your shoulder. It takes time to regain one’s full capacity, and I didn’t know when I would be back. I was a little anxious, but I’m glad I took the time because I’m now completely confident.”

Balogun’s first shoulder injury in October 2024 couldn’t have come at a worse time—the young striker had just scored in three straight Ligue 1 McDonald’s matches. He returned in December and made one league appearance against Olympique de Marseille before suffering another setback with the same injury.

Now he’s back again, and his return couldn’t be better timed. Monaco are in the thick of the race for an automatic UEFA Champions League spot, sitting third in Ligue 1 with 58 points.

But even in that position, Hütter and his squad can’t afford to take their foot off the gas — a few slip-ups could drop them all the way to seventh and out of European competition altogether.

The race to finish between second and sixth place is wide open. As the final two matches of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season are on the horizon, just five points separate second-place OM from seventh-place Olympique Lyonnais.

If Balogun can continue this form, it will give Monaco an added boost to the attack and another option at striker to help Mika Biereth and Breel Embolo, especially since the player has chemistry with each player.

“The two of us were able to combine for the first goal. We’ve played together in the past at Arsenal, so he’s a player I’m familiar with. We have a very good connection, and I love playing with him. It’s the same with Breel.”

Monaco’s last two matches of the season will be against Lyon at Stade Louis II and RC Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Les Rouge et Blanc control their destiny as two wins will see them finish in the automatic Champions League spots. 

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