Anthony Gordon celebration

Raghav Mehta

Twitter In Awe Of Anthony Gordon’s Aura As England Star Recreates El Greco Painting And Superman Scene Perfectly

2026 FIFA World Cup, Anthony Gordon, England National Football Team, Football Celebrations

Boasting a squad full off Premier League superstars led by arguably the best striker in world football at the moment, England were one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

They performed well in the group stages, earning two-goal wins against Croatia and Panama either side of a 0-0 stalemate with Ghana to secure top spot in Group L. For their first knockout assignment, they faced off against DR Congo, who had been turning heads with their defensively resolute performances over the course of the tournament.

Clearly superior to their African opponents in terms of sheer talent, the Three Lions were clear favourites to progress. However, the game did not begin as most would have expected. Brian Cipenga rifled the leopards to an early lead in the 7th minute, while England looked off the pace.

They did ultimately fight their way through thanks to two goals from captain fantastic, Harry Kane. While it was naturally the Bayern Munich man that took all the plaudits post-game, the game turned in England’s favour only after Anthony Gordon was introduced in the 61st minute.

After reigning La Liga champions Barcelona signed him for €80 million just before the World Cup, Gordon came into this summer’s tournament full of confidence. That confidence was on full display against the Congolese, as the tricky winger almost instantly elevated the intensity after he stepped on the field. He ended up proving both assists for Kane’s brace.

While much can be said about his impactful performance, fans on social media have been talking about his now ice-cold celebration. After England scored their second, Gordon stood out in photos of the team huddle.

Users joked about how he stole the limelight away from goalscorer Kane, while also earning plenty of aura points.

Another supporter compared Gordon’s image with an image known as “The Disrobing of Christ”, which was painted by Greek painter and sculptor El Greco in the late 1500s.

In the painting, Christ is depicted in the moments leading up to his crucifixion. Though plenty of chaos surrounds him, he looks unusually calm and relaxed. The same can be said about Anthony Gordon’s expression from Wedesnday’s Round of 32 tie.

Yet another fan drew parallels between Anthony Gordon’s snap and an image of Superman from the movie “Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice”.

In the iconic movie scene, Superman has just rescued a young girl trapped in a burning building. A crowd surrounds him after this, and he is treated as a hero, with many patting him on the back.

While for some it appeared Anthony Gordon appeared to have recreated a photoshoot from popular men’s fashion and luxury magazine L’Officiel Hommes Italia –

Again, there is plenty that Gordon did on the field on Wednesday, that could render him a hero from England’s point of view.

While grasping victory from the jaws of defeat like they did against DR Congo will no doubt be very satisfying for Anthony Gordon and the England team for now, they cannot afford to spend too much time celebrating their feat.

Their next challenge sees them face off against one of the tournament’s co-hosts, Mexico, who have been nothing short of incredible so far.

Topping their group and winning every single game they have played so far, the Mexicans also boast the best defence in the tournament, having not yet conceded a single goal.

To add to the challenge for England, the match will take place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which has been a fortress for El Tri over the years. Mexico have played 89 matches at the Azteca and won 70 of those, drawing 17 and losing only two.

Additionally, the stadium is located at an altitude of 2,200 metres above sea level, making for an experience that the England players will not be used to in the slightest.

With their toughest challenge of the summer so far on the horizon, the Three Lions will be looking to Anthony Gordon once again to help pave the way for English success.

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