Barcelona Rout Valencia 5-0, Fermin Scores Once and Assists Twice to Earn MVP

In the 6th minute of the match, Fermin delivered a brilliant chipped pass from the right flank. The ball traced a beautiful arc and found Yamal, who calmly finished with a low shot. At that moment, the noise at Camp Nou almost seemed capable of lifting the roof. If you remember what Fermin went through this summer, you would understand the weight behind this assist.

The World Cup, the gold medal, the cheers—those honors that should have belonged to him were all taken by others. He could only watch on television as the Spain national team achieved glory, while he could not even make the squad list. It was said that during that period he was often teased on social media, with some offering kind encouragement and others mocking him without mercy. But Fermin chose silence and responded with action.

In the 22nd minute, his opportunity arrived. Receiving a pass back from a teammate, he unleashed a powerful left-footed strike inside the penalty area that went straight into the corner. 1-0, 2-0—he announced his return in his own way. More importantly, this was not his only highlight. In the 50th minute of the second half, he delivered another cross from the right, setting up Raphinha to arrive at the far post and score easily. All three goals were connected to him.

One goal and two assists, plus the match MVP award—it was well deserved. But you may not know how valuable this MVP performance was. Yamal scored twice in this match and has four goals in four games since the start of the season, already becoming a core attacking weapon for Barcelona; after scoring in this game, Raphinha moved directly to the top of the scoring charts with six goals and one assist; Gordon leads the entire league with four assists. In other words, every teammate around Fermin is shining, but he still stood out in such an environment.

Interestingly, even after delivering such a performance, Fermin's midfield position at Barcelona is still not guaranteed as a fixed starting role. After Rodri joined, the midfield competition became extremely intense. Olmo, as a World Cup starter, also has a secure position. Think about it: a player gives everything to produce one of the best performances of his career, yet head coach Flick only calmly said after the match, "We have many players who can start." Does that sound comforting?

I do not think it does. It is not because I feel sorry for Fermin, but because this attitude feels somewhat discouraging. How would a player who has just regained confidence and urgently needs match rhythm feel? He was marginalized in the national team and could not secure a consistent starting place at his club, so what choice does he have except to fight? Put simply, Fermin is now proving through his own efforts: when you do not believe in me, I will make you stay silent.

Looking at the overall statistics, in four matches this season he has scored four goals and provided two assists, directly contributing to six goals. What does that mean? Since Cesc Fabregas in the 2011-12 season, he is the first Spanish-born player to achieve this feat. Who is Fabregas? He is an Arsenal legend and the midfield brain of Barcelona's famous Dream Team era. Fermin being compared alongside him shows the significance of this achievement.

You will also notice that Fermin was already excellent last season. Across 48 matches, he recorded 13 goals and 17 assists, numbers that would make him a clear core player at almost any team. But now he seems to have completed a transformation, becoming more efficient, more decisive, and more aggressive. Flick also appears to be gradually discovering his new value, transitioning him from a pure box-to-box midfielder into a more threatening attacking midfielder.

Of course, competition never steps aside simply because of your effort. Olmo's performances also cannot be overlooked, while Rodri is a world-class player who can immediately adapt. Barcelona's midfield depth is exactly the team's greatest strength, while also being the pressure every player must face. Only when you can establish yourself in such a talent-filled environment can you truly be considered a strong player.

For Fermin, a bigger stage may not be far away. As a European Championship winner and Paris Olympic gold medalist and Golden Boot winner, if he stays healthy, his place among the contenders for Euro 2028 is basically secure. De la Fuente had already seen value in him, and the disappointment of this World Cup has instead become fuel for a fresh start.

Seeing Fermin's current form honestly gives me a feeling of looking at a different era. Two years ago, he was the little-known winger in Barcelona's youth academy; two years later, he has already proven himself on the top stage of the national team. Football is like this—you never know what will happen next, but as long as you do not give up, you always have a chance to turn things around.

This 5-0 victory may simply be a routine result for Barcelona in the new season. But for Fermin, it is the strongest declaration of his rise from a low point. He did not complain or remain silent; instead, he used the most direct methods—goals, assists, and an MVP award—to make everyone recognize his name again. There is still a long road ahead, but if he continues playing this way, I believe the former "disappointed player" will eventually become the focus everyone looks up to.