Barcelona Players Shine on International duty

I just thought I would compose a little ranking list just to emphasize how their club exploits have spilled over into the international arena. These are the Barca players who have carried over their great club form into the international break.

6. The Spanish Contingent

There are two Spanish players that will get a special mention on this list. But I think it’s important to also consider the dovetailing brilliance of the Spanish national outfit and this current Barca setup. It’s eerily like what happened during Guardiola’s glory years at the Spanish giants: a strong Barca equals a strong Spain. The likes of Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo are becoming essential to a Spanish Juggernaut that is now undefeated in 41 matches.

5. Raphinha

Raphinha’s recent output for Brazil is a mere continuation of his fabulous form for the Catalan giants. The Brazilian’s transformation from right-wing to false-nine and now to a more traditional no.9 has been a joy to behold. The Brazilian is currently rewriting the record books in La Liga, winning back-to-back Player of the Month awards in August and September. This while playing alongside in-from Ballon d’Or hopeful Lamine Yamal. Raphinha continued to impress in two stress-free friendlies against Australia, providing an assist in the first match before scoring on the stroke of halftime in the 2nd match. The big caveat to all this is that Raphinha was whisked back to Spain following a suspected right-thigh strain. Further medical tests suggested no tear, meaning he could continue his plundering ways as soon as this frustratingly long international window comes to an end.

4. Rodri

Rodri did well to follow in Pep’s footsteps, getting out of City was the getting was good. Regardless of what happens in the protracted City case, Rodri can point to the fact that the majority of those ‘offences’ occurred prior to his arrival at the club. Busquets’ successor as midfield tempo setter has been his usual metronomic self, even adding a goal in Spain’s victory over the Czech Republic. Will get better as the season progresses.

3. Joao Cancelo

The Joao Cancelo renaissance continues. The Portuguese fullback had been lost in the footballing hinterlands since falling out with Guardiola at City, enduring an underwhelming stint at Bayern before a temporary move to the Saudi Pro League. But he made a successful loan return to the Camp Nou towards of the end of last season before permanently moving back this August. And he was one of Portugal’s unequivocal stars during this leg of the Nations League, starting every match at right full-back while collecting assists against Norway and Denmark.

2. Anthony Gordon

Many, me included, baulked at Anthony Gordon’s mega-money move to Barcelona? Surely Marcus Rashford- at about a 3rd of the price- was the more sensible option. It’s nice to be surprised from time to time. Gordon enjoyed an electrifying start to life as Barca’s newest foreign import, manufacturing four assists in his first four La Liga matches. That stat placed him alongside Fabregas and Suarez as the only players to achieve that for the club this century (only Messi-with five assists in his first four La Liga matches- started hotter). Gordon has gone away with England and become one of Tuchel’s most indispensable figures, harassing fullbacks with his pace and willingness to get in behind the lines.

1. Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal has taken this international break by storm, winning man of the match in all three of his matches thus far. He has been the proverbial ‘early bird’ of this window, scoring inside the first ten minutes in each of his outings. He is the creative fulcrum of the Spanish unit, isolating defenders while creating space for the likes of Olmo and Oyarzabal. Strictly speaking, the Ballon d’Or is only meant to encompass performances dating up until the end July. But let’s face it: current form often bleeds into those results. I think that Yamal may have overtaken Kane in the race had voting not closed on the 28th of September.