Roy Keane has challenged Anthony Gordon to take the next step in his development after the Barcelona winger scored England’s equaliser against World Cup champions Spain.
Gordon finished well on Saturday night to cancel out the opening goal from Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal. The goal extended an impressive run of form for the 25-year-old, who has settled quickly since moving to Spain.
The winger joined FC Barcelona from Newcastle in summer 2026 on a five-year contract worth around £60M. Under manager Hansi Flick, he has made six La Liga appearances and provided four assists.
Flick has been relying on Gordon to create opportunities for the likes of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in attack, and the England international has responded with a series of influential performances.
His latest display against Spain was another indication of his growing confidence, but former Manchester United midfielder Keane believes Gordon must produce consistently at the highest level if he is to fulfil his potential with England.
“Anthony Gordon is certainly full of confidence,” Keane stated. “He is maturing, and his confidence must be sky-high. He was excellent tonight.
“What defines you as a top player, is your end product. The talent is all there, but he has to become a main man as a player.”
Keane’s comments acknowledge Gordon’s progress while placing emphasis on the responsibility that comes with becoming an established leading player. Despite scoring a well-taken equaliser, Gordon was told that contributing more regularly in decisive moments will be central to his continued development.
Overall, the performance against Spain was sharp and decisive, reinforcing the progress Gordon has made since his move to Barcelona. He is continuing to develop under both Flick at club level and Thomas Tuchel with England.
That improvement has increased expectations surrounding Gordon’s future for both Barcelona and the Three Lions. His ability to provide assists as well as finish chances has made him an important part of the attacking plans being built around him.
England’s next fixtures are against the Czech Republic and Croatia. Gordon is expected to feature again in those matches, although Tuchel could rotate his side.