\n\n
Basketball icon LeBron James has praised United States striker Folarin Balogun after the forward celebrated his goal with James’ famous “Silencer” gesture during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32. Balogun performed the celebration after opening the scoring, having earlier seen another goal ruled out for offside.
James, a longtime admirer of football, reacted enthusiastically on social media, posting: “THE (Silencer) HAS (Arrived) at the World Cup!” alongside emojis celebrating the moment. Balogun, who is known to be a basketball fan, later responded by sharing James’ post, highlighting the crossover between two of the world’s biggest sports. The goal was Balogun’s third of the tournament, further underlining his importance to the U.S. team’s World Cup campaign.
Despite the memorable goal and celebration, Balogun’s night ended on a sour note after he received a controversial straight red card following a VAR review for a challenge on a Bosnia defender. The dismissal means the striker will miss the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium through suspension, although the Americans still secured victory thanks to a late goal from Malik Tillman. The incident has generated widespread debate over the referee’s decision, with many players and pundits describing the sending-off as harsh.
