United States striker Folarin Balogun has declared he has the potential to challenge Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup 2026, drawing motivation from the relentless scoring of football's elite.

Speaking to reporters during a training session, Balogun confessed that watching the world's best strikers rack up goals with such regularity both frustrates and inspires him.

"I think it's annoying!" joked Balogun. "Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland — they're so inevitable. I think they're scoring a goal a game, sometimes more."

The United States forward refused to shy away from his own ambitions, insisting he carries the quality to reach that same level of consistency.

"For me, it's just about trying to get to that level — to be inevitable as well, to be consistent. And I'm sure I've got the potential in me to do that."

Yellow card caution

Balogun's pursuit of top scorers — including Messi, who recently broke the all-time World Cup scoring record — comes with a complication. The striker is carrying a yellow card heading into the knockout rounds, forcing him to weigh aggression against availability.

"The most important thing for a professional athlete in any sport is to be available. I'm no different, so, of course, I want to play. But it's also important to be smart. I wouldn't want to pick up a yellow card and miss the round of 32."

Despite the disciplinary tightrope, Balogun remains focused on the opportunity ahead, believing every goal scored at a World Cup carries a meaning that outlasts the tournament itself.

"Hopefully the further we go, the more opportunities I have to score. Any goal in the World Cup is something that's going to be cherished forever."