It seems like ages ago when Anthony Gordon’s place in the England lineup was anything but guaranteed. The turning point arrived in the final warm‑up match before the World Cup, a game against Costa Rica where Gordon not only found the net but also created another goal. That performance finally convinced the coaching staff to hand him a starting berth for the opening group fixture against Croatia.
Even then, many pundits at Sky Sports remained hesitant, waiting for more proof of his worth. Fast forward just three months, and Gordon has become a fixture on Thomas Tuchel’s matchday sheets, earning a reputation as one of the manager’s most trusted attacking options. The early stages of the tournament were uneven for England, and Gordon’s contributions were limited.
After goalless draws with Croatia and Ghana, he was omitted from the squad for the crucial final group game versus Panama. The decision paid off; when he returned to the side for the knockout round, he supplied the assists for both of Harry Kane’s strikes in the dramatic comeback win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. His influence didn’t stop there. In the subsequent Nations League clash with Norway, Gordon added another assist, and in the semi‑final against Argentina he scored the decisive goal that sent England through to the final.
Those moments have not only lifted the nation’s hopes but have also elevated Gordon’s own standing within the team. At present, the Barcelona winger is riding a four‑match international scoring streak – the longest run of any England player besides Harry Kane in nearly six years.
Achieving such consistency is impressive for any footballer, especially for one whose attacking output had been under intense scrutiny up until the eve of the summer tournament. Before the World Cup, Gordon struggled to translate his club form into the England shirt.
Yet in the last ten appearances for his country, he has been directly involved in ten goals, either by scoring or assisting, making him a vital component of what many now consider the most potent attacking quartet in international football. His reputation had suffered during a turbulent final season at Newcastle United, where, under the relentless gaze of the Premier League media, he managed only five non‑penalty goal involvements. This modest tally cast doubt on his ability to perform on the world stage, even though he had previously recorded four times that number during his initial spell on Tyneside.
Frustrated by the criticism, Gordon told ITV before the camp that his "quality and football IQ" had not been fully appreciated by English fans, a sentiment that only hardened his resolve after his move to Barcelona. Talent has always been evident in Gordon’s game. His early years at Newcastle, combined with brief but promising periods at Everton, showcased flashes of brilliance. However, coaches have long flagged consistency as the missing piece.
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, and head coach Hansi Flick saw beyond his Premier League struggles and believed the club could restore him to his best form. Their faith paid off, prompting them to sign him ahead of Marcus Rashford, even at a price more than double what his England teammate would have commanded. While the signing flew under many headlines, it was noted that only Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé had scored more than Gordon’s ten goals in twelve Champions League matches last season – a tally that included goals against future Barcelona rivals during the group phase. This achievement did not escape the eyes of the Nou Camp hierarchy.
Ironically, Gordon recently complained that, before his Barcelona move, he was valued only for his work‑rate and speed. Yet Deco told Spanish outlet RAC1 that it was precisely Gordon’s intensity that attracted the club, highlighting a discrepancy between perception and reality. The 25‑year‑old has undeniably taken his game to a higher level, proving his worth on both domestic and international stages over the past few months. Prior to the Costa Rica friendly, he had contributed just two goals and an assist across his first 18 England caps.
Since then, his record has transformed dramatically, showing that he can deliver when the stakes are highest – whether in a World Cup semi‑final or in Nations League fixtures against Spain and the Czech Republic, where his interventions altered the course of the matches. Gordon’s self‑belief has always been evident.
At his Barcelona unveiling, he spoke confidently in Spanish about having dreamed of playing for the club since he was three years old, a statement that underscored his long‑standing ambition and preparation. The World Cup experience has likely bolstered his confidence further, and he now holds the distinction of being the first English player signed permanently by Barcelona since Gary Lineker, a milestone that came four decades after Lineker’s historic transfer.
He has hit the ground running at the Camp Nou. Fans have quickly embraced him, with social media buzzing over his four assists in his first six LaLiga appearances – a figure that doubles the assists he recorded in his final Premier League season and ties for the most in the current Spanish top flight.
Deco continues to publicly encourage Gordon to sharpen his finishing, but his recent goal‑scoring surge for England suggests that improvement is already underway. Whether he can sustain his bright start in Catalonia and maintain his international form, or whether consistency will remain his greatest hurdle, remains to be seen. One thing is clear: if he manages to keep this trajectory, both club and country will possess a player of genuine quality and impact.