Pulisic is flying, Pepi keeps scoring, and Balogun is rolling again - while one USMNT midfielder may need a January reset. GOAL dives into Americans Abroad in this week’s Rondo.

USMNT star Folarin Balogun made history by scoring in a third successive Champions League match to steer Monaco to a hard-fought victory over Galatasaray in the Principality. On an evening when both teams squandered a catalogue of inviting opportunities, the 24-year-old’s scrappy finish midway through the second half proved enough to secure a vital three points and lift Monaco level with their Turkish opponents in the league phase.

Mauricio Pochettino faces plenty of selection posers ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with the USMNT looking to piece together a squad that can be competitive on the grandest of stages. They will need plenty of firepower in order to make that possible, with Brad Friedel discussing a striker pool that includes Folarin Balogun, Haji Wright, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent during an exclusive interview with GOAL.

GOAL takes a look at which American players are playing the best heading into the final weeks of 2025.

USMNT's Folarin Balogun has been removed from penalty duties at Monaco after he missed his fourth spot-kick of the season.