BUENOS AIRES, July 10 (Reuters/HA Viewpoint) — Enzo Fernández wrote Lionel Messi a letter in 2016. Ten years later, he scored a goal that gave Messi one more game at the 2022 World Cup. The circle is complete. The journey from a 10-year-old fan to a world champion is now a matter of record.
“I wrote to him when I was a kid,” Fernández said in a recent interview. “I never imagined we’d be teammates.” The letter, published by local media, pleaded with Messi not to leave the national team. It was a desperate plea from a boy. A decade later, Fernández’s goal against Mexico kept Argentina alive in Qatar. Messi scored the first. Fernández sealed it. One more game. That was all they needed.
The 23-year-old midfielder’s rise is not a fairy tale. It is a grind. He started at River Plate. Loan spells followed. Defensa y Justicia. Then Benfica. He was a substitute for most of his early career. Patience was his currency. “I never gave up,” he said. “I just waited for my chance.”
That chance came in Qatar. Argentina lost its opener to Saudi Arabia. Panic set in. Manager Lionel Scaloni turned to Fernández. The young midfielder started against Mexico. He scored. Argentina won. They never lost again. Fernández started every match from that point. He finished the tournament as the Best Young Player. From bench to legend. It took 10 years.
But the bond runs deeper than goals. During a recent Copa América match, Messi missed a penalty. The stadium fell silent. Teammates tensed. Fernández did not react with frustration. He made a subtle gesture. He pointed to Messi. He nodded. He walked over and whispered something. The moment was brief. It was not missed.
“Hasta sus compañeros se lo temían,” a team source told AS. “The gesture Enzo made after the penalty miss will be talked about. It showed who he is.” The gesture was simple. A hand on the shoulder. A few words. It spoke volumes about unity. It spoke volumes about respect.
La Nacion later revealed what Fernández whispered to Messi. “I told him, ‘You’re the best. You don’t need this. We’re with you.’” The phrase reportedly moved Messi to tears. “It was not planned,” Fernández said. “It came from the heart. I knew what he was feeling. I just wanted him to know we had his back.”
The relationship between the two is now a cornerstone of Argentina’s success. Messi, 37, is the captain. Fernández, 23, is the engine. They share a deep understanding. They share a history. One wrote a letter. The other answered it with a goal. And a whisper.
Fernández’s journey is a lesson in loyalty. He believed in his hero when no one else did. He fought for his place when no one believed in him. He lifted the World Cup. He lifted his teammate. The legend continues.
— Reporting by HA Viewpoint
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What did Enzo Fernández write in his letter to Lionel Messi in 2016?
- A: He pleaded with Messi not to leave the Argentina national team, writing as a desperate 10-year-old fan.
- Q: How did Enzo Fernández’s goal at the 2022 World Cup impact Argentina’s campaign?
- A: His goal against Mexico sealed a vital win after Argentina lost its opener, keeping the team alive and sparking a run to the title.
- Q: What was Enzo Fernández’s career path before becoming a world champion?
- A: He started at River Plate, went through loan spells at Defensa y Justicia and Benfica, and was mostly a substitute until seizing his chance in Qatar.