Folarin Balogun Finally Reemerges on Soccer Stage-Will He Earn USMNT November Call Up?

Nearly four months after the U. men's national team's World Cup run, star striker Folarin Balogun has finally reclaimed his spotlight on the soccer stage.

Balogun captured the hearts and minds of Americans all around the U. this summer when he scored three goals in just four appearances on the sport's grandest stage.

The 25-year-old led the USMNT on a dreamy run that saw it achieve consecutive group stage wins for the first time since 1930, reign victorious in Group D with a match to spare and secure its first knockout round win in 24 years. Thanks to his savvy style of play and aggressive eye for the goal, Balogun quickly became a household name and the new face of the USMNT.

However, the new spotlight on Balogun soon proved unbearably bright. He was controversially flashed a red card in the round of 32 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a decision that sent the nation up in arms, but one that Balogun himself immediately accepted with composure.

"It's important to stay calm," he said in the aftermath. "I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion.

There's still lots of people we're inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it's unjust.

But just over 24 hours before the USMNT's round of 16 clash with European powerhouse Belgium, FIFA issueda monumental red card reversal for Balogun, thrusting the striker unwillingly into the middle of a global scandal that soonhad ties to the White House and U. President Donald Trumpandreceived scrutiny for nearly every competing nation's football association.

Although the decision made the USMNT's star player now eligible for the bout with Belgium, he laterprofessed that all the outside noise" had affected him and his teammatesduring the eventual 4-1 thrashing. Without any of his own doing, Balogun's tournament success had been twisted into scandal, making him the central narrative at a tournament accused of FIFA's corruption and politicization.

As if that incident alone hadn't spun enough scandal, Balogun found himself back at the center of drama just two months later. Deadline Day of the summer transfer window began with the striker seemingly on his way to Everton; however, he unexpected failed his medical evaluation at the Premier League club, causinga domino effect for several transfer deals on hold across Europe mere hoursbefore the window slammed shut.