Phil Foden walked off the Etihad pitch on Wednesday night to a thunderous standing ovation, the kind of applause that shakes a stadium and sends chills through even the most experienced players. Manchester City had just beaten Borussia Dortmund 4–1 in the Champions League, but for the fans, the night belonged to one man — their boy from Stockport, the magician in sky blue. Everyone in the stands, and millions watching around the world, were saying the same thing: Phil Foden is too good to be left out of the England team.
It was a night that began with nervous anticipation. Dortmund had come to Manchester with revenge in mind after losing to City in previous seasons. Pep Guardiola, as usual, looked calm on the touchline, his hands in his pockets, whispering tactical instructions to his staff. But inside, even Pep knew this game carried a different kind of weight. His team had stumbled in the league in recent weeks, and he needed a response — he needed energy, creativity, and hunger. He needed Phil Foden.
From the first whistle, Foden looked like a man on a mission. Every touch was clean, every pass sharp. He drifted inside, then out wide, linking perfectly with Erling Haaland. The German crowd behind the Dortmund bench fell silent as the young Englishman danced past defenders like they weren’t even there. Then, in the 14th minute, the Etihad exploded. A loose ball rolled to the edge of the box, and Foden, without hesitation, curled it past the keeper with surgical precision. 1–0 Manchester City. The fans roared his name, “Foden! Foden! Foden!”
Before Dortmund could recover, Haaland, their former hero, made it two. The Norwegian celebrated quietly, raising his hands as if to say sorry to the travelling supporters, but it didn’t matter — the damage was done. City were flying. And in the middle of it all, Foden was untouchable.
After halftime, he struck again. A clever one-two with Bernardo Silva opened a small gap, and Foden didn’t even look up. He fired low, past the keeper, into the bottom corner. 3–0. Pep Guardiola turned and smiled, shaking his head. That was the Foden he’d been protecting, nurturing, and defending from critics for years. The boy who came through City’s academy had just turned another Champions League night into his personal show.
Dortmund did manage to pull one back, but it was too late. In added time, substitute Rayan Cherki finished the job with a fourth goal, sealing a commanding 4–1 victory. As the players celebrated, all eyes were still on Foden — smiling, clapping the fans, his face glowing under the Etihad lights. It wasn’t just his goals. It was his control, his intelligence, his confidence. Every touch looked effortless.
And as soon as the final whistle blew, social media went wild. Within minutes, “Foden” was trending across England. Fans, pundits, and even rival supporters were saying the same thing: how could Thomas Tuchel continue to ignore him for the England squad?
“How is Tuchel not picking Foden for England?” one fan wrote. “Best attacking midfielder we’ve got.” Another said, “No one can tell me otherwise — Foden should start every game for England.”
It was the same sentiment everywhere. Tweets, Instagram posts, even TikTok videos — all praising the young City star. Clips of his goals were shared millions of times in just a few hours. Some fans even tagged Tuchel directly, demanding answers. “Wake up, Tuchel! You can’t leave this kid out of the World Cup squad!”
Foden’s numbers this season speak for themselves — four goals and three assists in just 13 games. But numbers only tell part of the story. His movement, creativity, and fearlessness make him one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in the Premier League. And on nights like this, when the stakes are high and the lights are bright, he seems to rise even higher.
After the match, Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his pride. “Phil was unbelievable,” he told reporters. “He always is when he plays with freedom. He loves football — that’s what makes him special.”
But behind Pep’s praise was also a small note of frustration. Guardiola has always been protective of Foden, but even he knows the England situation is strange. Thomas Tuchel, who took over the England job earlier this year, has left Foden out of his last few squads. His explanation? “It’s just a selection decision.”
When Tuchel was asked about Foden last month, he tried to calm the storm. “There’s no problem with Phil,” he said. “I see how well he’s playing. But I have to make decisions.” Still, fans didn’t buy it. And after this latest performance, Tuchel will find it even harder to justify Foden’s absence.
As City fans sang “Blue Moon” into the night, you could feel a deeper emotion in the air — pride. Foden isn’t just another star in a team full of them. He’s one of their own. Born in Stockport, raised in the academy, and now shining on Europe’s biggest stage. Nights like this remind everyone why Guardiola once called him “the most talented player I’ve ever seen.”
In the stands, a group of young fans held up a banner: *“Foden is England’s future.”* Cameras caught it, and within minutes, the photo spread across the internet. Even some rival fans admitted it was true. “He’s too good,” one Arsenal supporter tweeted. “I hate to say it, but Foden is special.”
It wasn’t just about the goals. His work rate, his vision, his chemistry with Haaland — everything clicked. At times, it felt like he was three steps ahead of everyone else on the pitch. Dortmund defenders couldn’t get close. Every time they tried to press, Foden glided past them, leaving them chasing shadows.
By the time he was substituted late in the second half, the Etihad gave him a standing ovation that felt like a royal coronation. Pep clapped him off, whispering something as he hugged him. Maybe it was praise. Maybe it was advice. But one thing was clear — Guardiola trusts Foden more than ever.
Now the question shifts to Tuchel. England’s next international break is coming, with matches against Albania and Serbia. Tuchel is expected to name his squad soon, and fans will be watching closely. Will he finally give Foden his chance?
If he doesn’t, the pressure will be enormous. Every performance like this adds fuel to the fire. Pundits have already joined the debate. Former players like Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker have openly said Foden “has to start” for England. Even rival managers have praised his skill.
But Foden himself has stayed quiet. He rarely talks about England in interviews. He lets his football do the talking — and that’s exactly what he did against Dortmund.
The cameras caught him smiling at full-time, walking off the pitch with Haaland beside him. The two laughed, sharing a joke, as if they knew something the rest of the world didn’t. Maybe they did. Maybe Foden knows that no matter what happens with England, his future is already written at City — as a legend in the making.
For Manchester City, this win means more than three points. It’s a statement. After a shaky start to the season, they look alive again. The midfield spark they were missing has returned, and it’s wearing the number 47 shirt. Guardiola knows that to chase down Arsenal in the league and to win the Champions League again, he needs Foden firing on all cylinders.
As the journalists packed up their laptops and the stadium lights dimmed, fans were still singing his name outside. Children wearing City shirts ran around shouting “Foden! Foden!” It was a night that belonged to their hero, the local boy who grew up dreaming of this.
Back in the dressing room, Foden sat quietly, scrolling through his phone, seeing the flood of messages and clips online. He smiled — not out of arrogance, but pride. He had done his job. He had reminded the world who he was.Pep walked past and patted him on the shoulder. “Rest well,” he said. “We have more to win.”
And as the team bus rolled out of the Etihad car park, one question echoed louder than any chant or headline — how much longer can Thomas Tuchel ignore Phil Foden? Because after a night like this, the entire football world seems to have already made up its mind. Everyone’s making the same point: Phil Foden isn’t just Manchester City’s star — he’s England’s missing piece.
