Anthony Gordon’s reaction to being taken off goes viral after his amazing game that matched a Barcelona record.
Anthony Gordon matched a record set by Cesc Fabregas during Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Valencia, and his reaction to being substituted has caught the internet’s attention.
Gordon shined again as Barca crushed Valencia 5-0 at Estadi Mestalla—this was the third time in just four La Liga games this season that they’ve scored five goals. The 25-year-old set up Fermin Lopez for a goal in the 22nd minute, making it 2-0. Just minutes before, a goal by young Lamine Yamal was disallowed for offside.
With that assist, Gordon became the first player since Barca legends Fabregas and Luis Suarez to have four assists in his first four La Liga matches. When Barca was 3-0 up around the 60-minute mark, coach Hansi Flick made several substitutions, including bringing Gordon off.
Fans quickly noticed Gordon’s reaction to being substituted. He calmly wiped his face with his shirt and gave a respectful nod to his replacement, Karim Adeyemi. His early days at Barca have been closely watched—like any new signing—and this small moment stood out on social media.
While Gordon’s assist against Rayo Vallecano last week was flashy—a clever backheel for Raphinha’s goal—his pass against Valencia was simpler but just as important. Lamine Yamal was struggling for space on the right side of the box, then Gordon took over and passed the ball back perfectly to Fermin, who scored with a smooth finish.
That goal was Lamine’s fifth of the season, and he also has an assist. Gordon impressed fans when he spoke Spanish at his Barcelona unveiling in June, even though he had only taken six lessons at the time. He later held his first Barca press conference after a 5-0 win over Elche, where he got two assists.
During that interview, Gordon opened up about his early days at the club. “I feel so good, I feel so good,” he said. “Since I arrived, the guys have made me feel so welcome. I feel at home already. The city is amazing. The people are so friendly. I think I’ll get better and better the longer I’m here.”
Gordon is set to make his Champions League debut when Barca host Feyenoord at Camp Nou in their opening group game on Wednesday. He’ll have to wait to play in England again, as Barca face Aston Villa and Manchester City later in the group stage, but those games will be at home.