FIFA World Cup 2026: USMNT star joins Zidane & Ronaldinho in eerie company after Bosnia rout

Folarin Balogun etched his name into FIFA World Cup history after helping the United States book their place in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the Monaco striker continued his fine goalscoring form, an eventful evening also saw him join an exclusive list featuring football legends Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho.

The USMNT advanced to the knockout stage with an impressive display, although Balogun's night ended on a sour note after he received a red card in the second half, ruling him out of the upcoming Round of 16 clash against Belgium.

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Balogun joins Zidane and Ronaldinho in exclusive World Cup list

Balogun opened the scoring for the United States with his third goal of the ongoing tournament, strengthening his position as one of the standout performers for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

However, the 24-year-old's evening took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when he was sent off, leaving the USMNT to finish the match with 10 men.

Despite the dismissal, Balogun entered the FIFA World Cup record books by becoming only the fourth player in history to score and receive a red card in the same World Cup knockout-stage match.

Players to score and receive a red card in a World Cup knockout game:

Garrincha (1962)
Ronaldinho (2002)
Zinedine Zidane (2006)
Folarin Balogun (2026)

The suspension means Balogun will miss the United States' highly anticipated Round of 16 encounter against Belgium.

USA secure knockout berth despite Balogun setback

The United States maintained control of the contest even after going down to 10 men. Malik Tillman sealed the victory with a brilliant direct free-kick, becoming only the second American player after Eric Wynalda in 1994 to score directly from a free-kick at a FIFA World Cup.

Balogun's third goal of the tournament also saw him move into second place for the most goals scored by an American player in a single FIFA World Cup campaign.

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With Belgium awaiting in the Round of 16, the USMNT will now have to cope without its leading scorer as they chase a place in the quarterfinals. While Balogun's absence will be a significant blow, the Americans will take confidence from another disciplined performance that secured their progression to the knockout rounds.