World Cup football has arrived in America. properly King James, LeBron declared so. With lots of emojis. Anointing the next young king, Folarin Balogun.
Balogun’s dramatic round of 32 play – bookended by a goal for offside and a red card – also led to USA’s first goal in the 45th minute. It was a live raid from the center of the pitch, organized by Malik Tillman, son of a deceased US serviceman. Not only was Balogun’s convincing performance past three Bosnia-Herzegovina defenders to put the Americans ahead, but he had netted the goal early with a solo run, offside.
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But as soon as he finally scored, the accolades started pouring in from the heights – 204 cm (6-ft-9) to be exact. LeBron James quickly took to X in response to one of Fox’s posts:
“@USMNT take the lead 🇺🇸
Now Balogun can really hit the @kingjames silencer!”
King James would immediately rant, a fan-post, complete with his emoji. It said,
“LFG!!!!!! The World Cup is 🤫 🛬! Helluva goal there young 🤴🏾! 🫡. Go 🇺🇸”
LFG!!!!!! 🤫 is 🛬 in the World Cup! Helluva goal there young 🤴🏾! Go to 🫡 🇺🇸 https://t.co/8wb2t2F6oq
— LeBron James (@KingJames) 2 July 2026
The tweet-speak needed some explaining. “Let’s get scared.” Six exclamations. ‘Silencer’ has landed in the World Cup. young king
Hitting the silencer has been James’ thing for a decade in the NBA. It featured Balogun walking towards the camera, slapping his palms down, taking three steps. The silencer indicates that critics and vocal opponents, stop speaking.
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The silencer also has an official GIF and is one of the NBA’s iconic celebrations.
That, Sally is Balogun’s go-to American glamor dedicated to contemporary names of sports. King James influenced and inspired generations of American athletes hitting the silencer in his iconic purple color, a Balogun connecting the dots, even as James hailed a young and black King.
There was also speculation whether James, looking for a team, would land in the Bay Area – San Francisco, which would be the Golden State Warriors. Although, the impromptu Twitter post seemed to show how Americans, ordinary and famous, were all matched in the big game, which Mauricio Pochettino labeled “a World Cup final for us”.
Earlier, Balogun had a goal disallowed after finding himself narrowly ahead of a Bosnia Herzegovina defender. The USA, who were scoring in the first 20 minutes of each of their games, could not be denied, as Balogan was beautifully set up by Tillman playing direct, vertical football.
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Tillman, who was born in Nuremberg, Germany, to German mother Anjana Malik and older brother Timothy, and US serviceman Sheldon, who died last year, scored a goal of his own. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is the creative linchpin of the USMNT and lit up the group stages and first knockout with his goal in the 82nd match.
The wave is real as they say. And LeBron James making noises, as Balogan hits the silencer.