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LeBron James gave Folarin Balogun a special shoutout after the USA striker recreated his iconic ‘Silencer’ celebration during the Americans’ World Cup win over Bosnia.
Balogun hits the LeBron ‘silencer’ on Bosnia after scoring (X/Getty Images)
Basketball icon LeBron James was quick to acknowledge Folarin Balogun after the United States striker celebrated his goal in the Americans’ 2-0 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina by recreating the NBA legend’s famous ‘Silencer’ celebration.
Balogun, 24, twice found the back of the net on Wednesday. His first effort was ruled out for offside, but he still broke into James’ trademark celebration, before repeating it moments later after scoring the goal that eventually gave the co-hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time.
The tribute did not go unnoticed.
James took to X shortly after the match, writing: “THE (Silencer) HAS (Arrived) at the World Cup!” before adding: “Helluva goal there Young (King)!”
The post quickly went viral, amassing close to four million views as fans from both football and basketball celebrated the crossover moment.
James’ signature ‘Silencer’ celebration has become synonymous with clutch moments throughout his legendary NBA career. The move involves lifting his knees, pressing both palms towards the ground and tapping his chest, symbolising that he has “silenced” the opposition or the home crowd after delivering in a decisive moment.
Balogun, an Arsenal academy graduate, has enjoyed an impressive tournament, taking his tally to three goals at the 2026 World Cup as Mauricio Pochettino’s side booked a place in the Round of 16 with a historic victory.
However, Balogun’s memorable evening ended on a sour note after he was sent off in the second half for a studs-up challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović following a VAR review. The dismissal means he will miss the United States’ last-16 clash against Belgium on Monday.
James, meanwhile, has been making headlines of his own after announcing he will leave the Los Angeles Lakers while continuing his remarkable NBA career with a new franchise for a record-breaking 24th season.
(with Reuters inputs)
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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