Anthony Gordon was left reeling after his EA Sports FC 27 ratings were revealed on England duty. The former Newcastle United star has flourished for the Three Lions during the extended international break.
The 25-year-old has scored in four consecutive England games, with Thomas Tuchel's side getting their Nations League campaign underway. Gordon most recently got on the scoresheet in the team's remarkable 7-0 win over Croatia at the weekend and will aim to continue his streak when the Three Lions host Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday.
The winger netted 17 goals for Newcastle last term, with the bulk of those coming in his 12 Champions League appearances, before his summer exit. Barcelona swooped to complete a £69million move for the forward, who is yet to score for the Catalan club but has recorded five assists in seven games for his new side.
Ratings reveal sparks outrage
While on England duty, Gordon was tasked with predicting his international teammates' latest EA FC ratings in several categories, alongside Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers. The speedy ex-Newcastle winger topped a six-man list for pace, with a score of 91 out of 100, but was left shocked by his lowly rating for defensive work.
The England trio initially predicted Gordon to rank fourth from a selection of players, with Ezri Konsa leading the list and the Barcelona star sitting ahead of Morgan Rogers and Harry Kane. However, the correct order saw him drop a place due to his 50 defensive rating, which was just one higher than Kane's and 17 lower than Rogers', prompting outrage from Gordon and leaving Bellingham speechless.
Reacting to being below Rogers' score of 67 before his own rating was revealed, Gordon said on the England YouTube channel: “How can I be lower than that? Oh my god. The disrespect on that! Are we comparing my defending to Ez?”
Teammates weigh in
When deciding their initial picks, Gordon had said of Rogers: “He doesn't defend.” Upon seeing the winger's rating, the Chelsea star fired back: “Based on that, Ez would dribble past you.”
While Rogers covered his face laughing as Gordon reacted to the figures, Bellingham was left open-mouthed in disbelief. Prior to unveiling the defensive numbers, the Real Madrid star had said: “I do think defensively [Rogers] is really good, but Ant's pressing, I feel like they'd see that more.”
Bellingham and Rogers also praised Gordon's shooting ability after the winger correctly put himself behind Kane, the aforementioned duo and Eberechi Eze, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin taking last place. On Gordon's placement, Bellingham said: “I think Ant's being a bit too modest.” Rogers agreed, adding: “I think he should be higher.”
Physicality rating and Howe's influence
When it was subsequently revealed that Gordon ranked last among six England players for physicality with a score of 71, Bellingham added: ”His defending should be higher than his physical.”
Despite Gordon playing in an advanced position, former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe lauded the intensity of his pressing while filling in as a striker last season. The 25-year-old previously outlined the importance Howe placed on hard work and focus during training.
“Every session, if you're daydreaming for one second, he's somehow managed to see it and he's screaming your name,” Gordon told The Overlap in 2024. “Eddie's culture is much harder than what it was like when I first went to the England camp, but it's got me to where I am now which is a good thing.”
