Anthony Gordon, midfielder for Newcastle United and Barcelona, has voiced a clear preference for the contenders he sees as most deserving of the upcoming Ballon d’Or award, naming his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane as the leading candidates.
Speaking ahead of England’s UEFA Nations League clash with Spain at Wembley, Gordon described the competition for the prestigious individual honor as essentially a two-horse race. He emphasized Yamal’s remarkable achievements at just 19 years old, calling his talent “ridiculous” and placing him at the top in terms of pure ability. At the same time, Gordon acknowledged Kane’s historic performances last season, crediting the England captain with an equally strong claim. “They both have large arguments. I wish them both the best of luck,” Gordon said.
The upcoming Nations League fixture will see Gordon potentially face off against Yamal, providing a direct stage for the two young talents. Reflecting on England's challenges after their recent World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, where they conceded a late goal, Gordon offered insights from his experience playing in Spain’s La Liga. He noted a fundamental difference in playing styles, contrasting Spain’s emphasis on ball control and game management with England’s traditionally more physical and direct approach.
“It’s not just that tournament or that game where we couldn’t control a game,” Gordon said. “England, as a nation, don’t have that strength like the Spanish, where we control games like they do. It’s not in us. I’m not sure it’s something that can be taught.”
Gordon suggested England should embrace their distinctive qualities rather than attempting to replicate styles of other successful footballing nations. He advocated for playing to England’s strengths, which include physicality, direct football, and counter-attacking, rather than trying to mimic the possession-based tactics of Spain or France. “We need to stop looking elsewhere and appreciate what we have,” he said, calling for national pride in English players’ unique attributes.
Acknowledging that England’s World Cup exit prevented them from testing themselves in a final against Spain, Gordon stressed that the upcoming Nations League match remains a significant opportunity. “It’s a massive game against the best team in the world. So, if we can’t be motivated to show what we can do at this level, then we’re never going to be,” he added. Gordon said a strong performance or victory against world champions Spain would be a valuable statement for England’s ambitions moving forward.