Gary Lineker has shared his clear-cut verdict about Marcus Rashford and the Manchester United player’s role in the England squad for the World Cup this summer.
Marcus Rashford retained his place in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad for the World Cup after a successful loan spell at Barcelona for the 2025-26 campaign.
The 28-year-old Manchester United star climbed back into the England national team during his loan spell at Premier League side Aston Villa during the 2024-25 season.
Rashford, whose loan spell at Barcelona expires at the end of June, has been an important player in the England squad under Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
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Gary Lineker on the England debate around Man Utd star Marcus Rashford and soon-to-be Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon
Marcus Rashford is set to compete with Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon for a place in the England starting XI for the World Cup tournament in North America.
Anthony Gordon will leave Newcastle this summer and officially become a Barcelona player in July after the Spanish champions signed the 25-year-old winger.
Barcelona stunned the world with their decision to agree a hefty £69.3m deal to land Gordon from Newcastle, which has plunged Rashford’s club future into doubt.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football on Netflix, Gary Lineker claimed that on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford might not start ahead of Gordon.
“We just mentioned them both, Gordon and Rashford, because that looks like what it’s going to be [for England at the World Cup],” he said.
“I think it depends [on] how he [Tuchel] wants to play. If he wants to play with the press, I think he’ll go with Gordon because he’s very, very good at that.
“The statistics [for Gordon] back that up. I think if he goes for the best player, I think Rashford is unbelievably talented.”
Marcus Rashford evidently does not want to return to Man Utd – There is no way back for him surely?!
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Marcus Rashford faces a battle with Anthony Gordon not only for England at the World Cup, but also at Barcelona as well
Barcelona could have made Rashford’s move to the Camp Nou permanent in 2026 for a £30.3m transfer fee, which was agreed in last summer’s loan deal.
However, Anthony Gordon’s arrival at Barcelona has been a real spanner in the works for Rashford, whose future might now lie away from the Camp Nou.
Rashford is not only left weighing up his club options going forward, but the Barcelona star is competing with Gordon for the left wing role for England.
All eyes are now on Thomas Tuchel over whether the England boss chooses Rashford or Gordon for the Three Lions’ World Cup opener against Croatia.
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