Folarin Balogun: Monaco’s striker finds his rhythm again

Folarin Balogun’s season at AS Monaco has finally caught fire. After a disrupted 2024–25 campaign and a slow start this autumn, the American forward has rediscovered his sharpness following Sébastien Pocognoli’s arrival on the bench in mid-October — emerging as one of the Principality club’s most reliable attacking outlets.

Ahead of Monaco’s trip to Marseille on Sunday evening, Balogun is in confident form. Six goals in ten matches under Pocognoli represent a sharp contrast with his earlier struggles, and the 24-year-old now looks settled once again as the focal point of Monaco’s attack.

Confidence restored under Pocognoli

Balogun’s revival mirrors Monaco’s broader tactical reset. Pocognoli has installed a more fluid attacking structure, often with a single striker, a role that suits the former Reims forward far more naturally than a two-man system.

The Belgian coach has also prioritised psychological confidence. According to Balogun, encouragement — even after missed chances — has been key to unlocking his attacking instincts. Against Galatasaray in midweek, he missed early opportunities before scoring the decisive goal, a scenario that typifies his renewed freedom.

There is a clear trust between player and coach. Pocognoli’s insistence that his striker “do something” in decisive moments has resonated — and Balogun is responding.

Now in his fourth season in France, Balogun credits Ligue 1 with transforming his profile. When he arrived from Arsenal in 2022, he admits he lacked the physical robustness and speed of execution required to thrive in the league.

Ligue 1’s defensive intensity forced rapid adaptation: quicker decision-making, sharper movement, and a more complete athletic package. Yet Balogun is careful to stress that power alone is not enough.

“You can’t rely only on physicality here,” he has explained. Intelligence, technical precision, and efficiency in tight spaces are essential — lessons he has clearly absorbed.

From winger to “unorthodox” No.9

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Balogun’s evolution is his relationship with the No.9 role itself. Formed at Arsenal primarily as a winger, he was never schooled as a traditional centre-forward.

That background explains why Balogun considers himself an “unorthodox striker.” His natural instincts lean toward movement, link-up play, and assists — rather than purely penalty-box poaching.

This season, however, he has made significant strides in one of his former weaknesses: playing with his back to goal. Once easily dominated by centre-backs, Balogun now looks far more secure receiving the ball under pressure, using improved first touches and quicker layoffs to bring teammates into play.

His performance against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this season, where he troubled Willian Pacho repeatedly in duels, was a clear marker of that progress. Against Marseille, the striker was a few inches offside when he tnought he opened the scoring. At least now, he is generating the chances to score.

A big 2026 upcoming 

On a personal level, the striker sees this season as pivotal. After injuries curtailed last year, he was determined not to leave Monaco without a defining campaign. With the Champions League, domestic ambitions, and a World Cup on the horizon with the United States, Balogun’s renaissance feels timely. The question whether he can capitalise on it. 

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