Balogun has revealed that the remarkable consistency of football stars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland serves as both a source of frustration and inspiration as he aims to elevate his own game.
Speaking during a training session, the forward said he is determined to continue rising up the scoring charts at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and establish himself among the tournament’s elite goal scorers.
“I think it’s annoying!” Balogun said with a laugh. “When you look at players like Messi, Mbappé and Haaland, they’re so inevitable. It feels like they score in every game, sometimes more than once. My goal is to reach that level of consistency and become inevitable too. I believe I have the ability to get there.”
Balogun’s pursuit of more goals comes as he carefully manages the risk of suspension, with the striker currently carrying a yellow card heading into the knockout phase of the tournament.
“That’s the kind of player I am,” he explained. “For any professional athlete, being available is one of the most important things. Naturally, I want to play every match, but I also have to be smart. I wouldn’t want to pick up another yellow card and miss the round of 32.”
The striker added that he remains focused on helping his team progress deep into the competition, knowing that every additional match presents another opportunity to score.
“The further we go, the more chances I’ll have to contribute,” Balogun said. “Any goal scored at a World Cup is special and something you remember for the rest of your life.”
