Rashford's World Cup goal for England deepens Barcelona's regret over Gordon signing

Marcus Rashford answered questions about his future with a goal from the bench as England defeated Croatia 4-2 in their 2026 World Cup opener, a result that has reignited debate in Spain over Barcelona’s decision to sign Anthony Gordon permanently instead of the Manchester United forward.

Rashford had spent last season on loan at the Catalan club, but Barcelona allowed their purchase option to expire before moving to sign his England team-mate Gordon from Newcastle. The two forwards found themselves on opposite sides of that comparison on Wednesday night — Gordon started against Croatia but struggled to impose himself, while Rashford entered as a substitute and sealed the win with a late strike.

The contrast was not lost on the Spanish press. Sport noted that Rashford was “the only Barcelona player to make a difference” across all their representatives at the tournament, scoring to seal England’s victory. The outlet acknowledged that Gordon and the other Barcelona contingent did not lose on their World Cup debuts, but added that “the first day was not brilliant for Hansi Flick’s boys, who will be looking to increase their prominence in the second round.”

Stats account MisterChip highlighted the historical significance of Rashford’s goal, writing that he became “the first FC Barcelona player to score in the 2026 World Cup” and “the FIRST Barca player to score for England in the entire history of the World Cup.” The claim drew scrutiny in replies, with some noting Rashford’s Barcelona ties are now effectively severed. For context, Gary Lineker joined Barcelona in the summer of 1986 but did not appear for the club until after that tournament, which may explain the framing.

Spanish daily AS drew a direct line between the two players’ performances, reporting that England manager Thomas Tuchel’s substitution was straightforward: “Gordon, who was ineffective, was out; Rashford came in.” The report noted that Gordon did not stand out during his time on the pitch.

For Manchester United, the episode offers a complicated backdrop. With Barcelona having walked away from a permanent deal, the club must now decide whether Rashford has a future at Old Trafford or whether his strong start to the World Cup will attract fresh interest from elsewhere.