“The goal he scored in the first game, against Paraguay, when he cut in on his right and bent it in, that’s something Flo has been perfecting for a long time. He’s been doing that since a very young age.”Kevin Betsy is regaling The Athletic with his memories of USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, having worked with him when head coach of Arsenal’s under-23s and in the England youth setup.Balogun, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, but raised in east London, has been the standout performer for Mauricio Pochettino’s side from their first game at the World Cup, scoring two goals in an emphatic 4-1 win against Paraguay. He was instrumental again in helping the United States beat Australia and secure safe passage to the knockouts, then scored the opening goal of their round-of-32 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina.Then came the moment that has defined his World Cup.Balogun was sent off after a VAR review for a dangerous challenge, only for FIFA to suspend his subsequent ban following an intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer, and an extensive legal team.It is the latest chapter in the 25-year-old’s extraordinary story.Balogun was only born in the U.S. when his mother, Florence, was prevented from flying home because she was heavily pregnant.After his birth, mother and baby stayed in Brooklyn for nearly two months, before making the trip back to London, ESPN reported.Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic appBalogun represented England at youth level but opted to play for the USMNT in May 2023, scoring his first goal a month later.He had joined Arsenal aged 10 but The Athletic has been told that only happened after a second trial, having been released midway through his first. He was prolific at youth level but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.He went out on two loans, first to Middlesbrough, a challenging spell, and then to Reims, in France, where he flourished, before finding his feet at Monaco.From the Wanstead Flats park pitches to showcasing his skills on the biggest stage, The Athletic spoke to Balogun’s former coaches and team-mates to find out about his route to the World Cup and the start of a story that is now dominating this tournament.It all started for Balogun at Aldersbrook Athletic, his local team in east London, where he was coached by Peter Hucker, the former Oxford United goalkeeper.“He was far too good for what we do,” he tells The Athletic. “You can’t coach intelligence. At such young ages, that’s what stands out a mile — not because they can beat everybody or have the best shot, but because of their intelligence when they’re playing, they’re way ahead of everybody else. Most kids who think they’re Pele will try to score 100 goals every game, the good players are never like that and he wasn’t like that.”Nowadays, Balogun, a centre-forward, is renowned for his finishing prowess, but he played further back for Aldersbrook.“I started at a club called Aldersbrook in East London when I was six or seven. I played in the local team with my classmates,” he told Ligue 1’s official site in a previous interview. “We had matches every Sunday and at that time, I was playing as a central defender. I was very fast and I was doing well with the ball, so my coach put me there.”His performances for Aldersbrook put him on Arsenal’s radar, but two sources described how he was initially let go after three weeks.He was then spotted playing in a district match by scout Alan Knowles, who also brought Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe to the club. He insisted Arsenal bring him back in for a second trial. After six weeks, the 10-year-old Balogun signed up. In a previous interview with Arsenal’s website, Balogun revealed he came close to joining Tottenham Hotspur, their north London rivals, where he had also been on trial.Progressing through the ranks at Arsenal, Balogun became known for his goalscoring exploits in the academy. He scored 25 times in 19 appearances for Arsenal’s under-18s when they won the Under-18 Premier League South title in 2018-19. Balogun signed his first professional contract in February 2019, before agreeing to a four-year deal in April 2021.Folarin Balogun in action for Arsenal’s youth team in 2017 (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Stepping up to Arsenal’s under-23 side, he continued to score goals freely, earning a promotion to the first team under Mikel Arteta. After scoring two goals in five substitute appearances in the Europa League in the 2020-21 campaign, he was rewarded with a first Premier League start, in Arsenal’s 2021-22 opener at Brentford.It was a tough game for Arsenal, losing 2-0 to Thomas Frank’s side.“About four weeks later, Mikel asked if Flo and Eddie Nketiah could get some minutes,” Betsy recalls. “We played Manchester United at home. They were both excellent, Flo scored twice and enjoyed the game.