Anthony Gordon has officially arrived as one of England's indispensable talents. The Barcelona winger, who has earned 27 caps and six goals for his country, has joined an exclusive tier of guaranteed starters alongside figures like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Jordan Pickford. Manager Thomas Tuchel offered clear endorsement of Gordon's status, declaring that the 25-year-old is "getting there" in terms of becoming one of the first names written on the team sheet, while captain Kane praised him for "showing that he belongs at the highest level, for Barcelona and England." Gordon's recent performances—including a standout display against the Czech Republic, where he scored in England's 2-0 victory, and an impressive showing in a 3-2 defeat by world champions Spain—have cemented his position as a cornerstone of Tuchel's emerging squad.
Gordon's trajectory to elite status has been remarkably swift, building momentum since the knockout stages of the World Cup. The former Newcastle player has recorded three goals and three assists across his last six England matches, translating to a goal contribution every 69 minutes on average. His World Cup breakthrough began with two assists in England's 2-1 last-32 victory over DR Congo, while he also won the penalty that proved decisive in England's dramatic last-16 triumph over Mexico at Azteca Stadium. Since the World Cup knockout stage commenced, Gordon has matched Jude Bellingham's combined tally of six goals and six assists—a striking statistical parallel that underscores his emergence as a creative and clinical force. His recent performances have seen him rank among the top four England players for expected assists (0.9), expected goals (0.9), passes into the box (14), and chances created (eight), demonstrating that his impact extends far beyond simple goal tallies.
The path to prominence, however, was not inevitable for Gordon. Competition from Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, and Noni Madueke meant that the left-wing berth remained contested terrain. Yet Gordon's emergence during Lee Carsley's interim tenure gained momentum, and his recent displays suggest he has fulfilled the potential he acknowledged was dormant last October, when he candidly stated he had shown only "50%" of his capabilities. Tuchel's management style has clearly suited the winger; the boss emphasizes clarity regarding roles and competition for places, and he noted that Gordon "is defending his shirt, he's defending his position" while operating "on the highest level." The winger's Barcelona move—a £69 million investment from the Catalan club—has also shifted perceptions about his quality, with Gordon himself noting that Spanish football has highlighted his intelligence and technical ability rather than simply his pace and pressing intensity, attributes that had defined his profile in England previously.
Gordon's integration at Barcelona has progressed smoothly, accumulating five assists in La Liga already, and his dual excellence in club and international football positions him as central to Tuchel's ambitions. The manager is building a squad capable of challenging for the 2028 European Championship, yet his immediate focus remains capturing the Nations League. If England succeeds in that tournament, Gordon's contributions will almost certainly prove pivotal. His combination with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold—who returned to the Three Lions setup after nearly two years absent—has already yielded the opening goal against the Czech Republic, suggesting creative partnerships that could define England's attacking play moving forward. With the left-wing position finally appearing settled and Gordon's performances earning validation from Tuchel and Kane alike, the 25-year-old has transcended his previous status as a rotational option to become precisely what Kane described: one of the team's unquestionable "main men."