Bradley Barcola Struggled Against Belgium
The Liverpool forward failed to register a goal or assist during his start for France.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Soccer
Live Poll
Is it fair to judge a new professional athlete based on their high transfer price?
Bradley Barcola started on the left of a three-man attack for France against Belgium, but he was unable to contribute to the scoreline. He was eventually substituted in the 72nd minute of the match.
Why it matters
Following his high-profile transfer to Liverpool, observers are closely monitoring Barcola as he seeks to replicate the form he displayed during his final season at Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcola lost possession nine times and won only two of six ground duels during his appearance. He has recorded zero goals and zero assists across five appearances for Liverpool.
The players
Bradley Barcola
He is a professional forward who transferred to Liverpool for £123 million in 2026.
Zinedine Zidane
He is a former professional player and current manager who directed the substitution of Barcola.
Desire Doue
He is a professional footballer who replaced Bradley Barcola in the 72nd minute of the match.
The details
Barcola was replaced by Desire Doue in the 72nd minute after a challenging outing. While he previously found success by scoring against England in the World Cup third-round play-off, he struggled to make a similar impact in this international fixture.
Timeline
Bradley Barcola joined Liverpool for £123 million in the summer of 2026.
Bradley Barcola started for France against Belgium on October 5, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This performance marks a departure from his previous season where he recorded 13 goals and seven assists for Paris Saint-Germain. Barcola must now prove his value at Liverpool to secure a long-term role within both his club and the French national side.
The forward currently has zero goals and zero assists in five appearances, impacting his value in fantasy leagues and roster depth charts. His struggles against Belgium may lead to increased competition for his starting position in upcoming fixtures.
The takeaway
Players moving to new leagues frequently require an adjustment period before matching their previous statistical output. Fans should look for improvement in Barcola's ball retention to indicate a return to his previous goal-scoring form.
Further reading
For more news and analysis on international matches, visit the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GiveMeSport.
Live Poll
Is it fair to judge a new professional athlete based on their high transfer price?
