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USMNT's Folarin Balogun scores hat trick in Monaco friendly in first match after return from shoulder injury

<p>U.S. international Folarin Balogun scored a hat trick for Monaco's "Elites Group' in a club friendly against Brighton's U23 side on Tuesday. The American's three goals all came within a 45-minute span, the club said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 🔥🇺🇸<br><br>Our American striker scored a hat-trick in 45 minutes with the Elite's Group! 😍<br><br>Counting the days to see you back at the Louis-II, Balo! 💪 <a href="https://t.co/iEWIhRx9TZ">pic.twitter.com/iEWIhRx9TZ</a></p>— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/AS_Monaco_EN/status/1904553195407393233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>Ther 23-year-old recently returned to full team training after undergoing shoulder surgery in December. Prior to injury, he made seven appearances for Monaco in Ligue 1 action, recording six starts and scoring three goals.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Balogun has yet to feature under USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino due to the shoulder issue.</p><p>In early October, he scored his third goal of the year in a 2-1 victory over Rennes, but later in the match he suffered a dislocated shoulder that kept him out of both <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/folarin-balogun-usmnt-injury/blt67df2373c7228a85" target="_self">the October </a>and November camps under the Argentine with the USMNT. He returned in late November, and after playing 68 minutes in a match against Marseille on Dec. 1, re-aggravated the shoulder injury - and he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-striker-folarin-balogun-out-for-four-months-at-as-monaco-shoulder-surgery/bltec970b3053e6db8f" target="_self">opted for surgery as a result.</a></p><p>This past week - with Balogun unavailable in addition to fellow striker Ricardo Pepi, midfielder Malik Tillman and defenders Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson - the U.S. crashed out of the CONCACAF Nations League finals, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-player-ratings-vs-panama-americans-handed-home-soil-humiliation-again-mauricio-s-pochettino-s-side-fails-to-defend-concacaf-nation-s-league-title/bltcc7d5f956c1ac857" target="_self">falling to Panama in the semifinal match</a> and to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-player-ratings-vs-canada-complete-implosion-for-maurico-pochettino-and-3-time-concacaf-nations-league-champions-as-usmnt-lose-again-finish-fourth-of-four-in-forgettable-tournament/bltabaa7640da01fc03" target="_self">Canada in the third-place game.</a></p><p>If healthy, Balogun will be available for selection for the June international friendlies and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>In 14 appearances with the USMNT, Balogun has scored five goals and recorded three assists. </p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>It's unknown if Balogun will be fit for the weekend when Monaco's senior team take on rivals Nice in Ligue 1 action, but the match presents an opportunity for the 23-year-old to play his first competitive minutes of the calendar year. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR BALOGUN?

USMNT's Folarin Balogun scores hat trick in Monaco friendly in first match after return from shoulder injury | Goal.com Singapore

The 23-year-old striker bagged three goals inside 45 minutes as he nears a return to competitive action for the senior team