Enzo Fernández

Benfica

On 23 June 2022, River Plate reached an agreement with Primeira Liga team Benfica for the transfer of Fernández for a €10 million fee for 75% of his economic rights plus €8 million in add-ons, but with the player remaining at River Plate until the end of the club's Copa Libertadores campaign. Following River Plate's round of 16 exit from the Copa Libertadores, on 14 July, Benfica confirmed the deal, giving Fernández the number 13 shirt, previously worn by club legend Eusébio.

He made his debut for the club on 2 August, scoring his first goal for the club, a half-volley from outside the penalty area, in a 4–1 home win over Midtjylland in the first leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. He then scored in Benfica's next matches: a 4–0 home win over Arouca in the Primeira Liga, and a 3–1 away win over Midtjylland in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. His impressive performances continued throughout the month and following a run of five consecutive wins and three clean sheets, he was named the Primeira Liga's Midfielder of the Month, a feat which was repeated for the months of October and November.

Chelsea

Following Fernández's success internationally at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he was linked with a move to Premier League teams Chelsea and Liverpool in the January 2023 transfer window, however, Benfica were adamant he wouldn't be sold for less than his €121m release clause. After negotiations lasting some ten hours and led by CFC co-owner Behdad Eghbali, the two clubs, on 31 January 2023, the last day of the Premier League's transfer window, came to an agreement and Fernández signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract, valid until 2031, with Chelsea, whose financial package reportedly was worth a total of £106.8 million. The transfer fee paid by Chelsea was, at the time, a British-record transfer deal. Benfica received an initial £30 million installment that will be followed by five more. On 11 February, he registered an assist for the team's only goal in a 1–1 league draw at West Ham United. He scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 2–1 win over AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the EFL Cup on 30 August 2023. He scored his first Premier League goals on 3 December, by netting a brace in a 3–2 home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Six weeks later, he started in Chelsea's 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final.

On 31 January 2026, on his 150th appearance for Chelsea, Fernández scored in the second minute of injury time to secure a 3–2 win over West Ham after the home team was 0–2 down at half-time. Later that year, on 26 April, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Leeds United, securing the club's 17th appearance in an FA Cup final.

Manchester City On 1 September 2026, transfer deadline day, Premier League club Manchester City signed Fernández for a reported British-record-equalling fee of £125 million, with a contract valid until 2031. The transfer made him the first player in football history to be transferred for fees exceeding £100 million on two separate occasions. The move reunited Fernández with his former Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca.

International career In July 2019, Fernández was selected by the Argentina U18s manager Esteban Solari to represent his nation at the 2019 COTIF Tournament in Spain. In November 2021, he was called up by Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni for two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay.

2022 World Cup title In November 2022, Fernández was named in Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After coming on for Guido Rodríguez in the 57th minute, on 26 November, Fernández scored his first international goal, closing Argentina's 2–0 group stage win against Mexico. In doing so, he became the second youngest player ever (only behind Lionel Messi) to score a World Cup goal for Argentina at 21 years and 313 days old. On 3 December, he became the youngest own goal scorer in the history of Argentina in the FIFA World Cup, in the round of sixteen match against Australia, when his attempt to block Craig Goodwin's shot deflected into his team's net as Argentina beat Australia 2–1. After defeating Croatia 3–0 in the semi-final, Fernández played in the final against France, where Argentina won the World Cup by a score of 4–2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw. He was named the best young player of the tournament.

2024 Copa América title In June 2024, Fernández was called up to represent Argentina at the 2024 Copa América. He played in all but one of their matches and recorded two assists as they went on to win the tournament, defeating Colombia 1–0 in the final and earning him his second senior international trophy.

July 2024 video controversy

In July 2024, following Argentina's Copa América triumph, a video showing Fernández and other Argentinian players chanting alleged racist chants about the origin of France national team players on the team bus surfaced, which led to outrage and criticism from the French Football Federation (FFF) and French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Several of Fernández's French teammates at Chelsea proceeded to unfollow him on Instagram and made posts on Twitter showing their anger, which led to Fernández apologising through Instagram. The FFF lodged a complaint to FIFA about the remarks, while Chelsea announced that it had "instigated an internal disciplinary procedure". After Fernández apologized privately to his Chelsea teammates and donated to an anti-discrimination charity, Chelsea announced that they would not be taking any disciplinary actions against him.

2026 World Cup

In May 2026, Fernández was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He scored a stoppage-time winner in a 3–2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16, which was also the 3000th goal in FIFA World Cup history. In the semi-final against England, he levelled the score with a long-range effort before his team went on to secure a 2–1 victory. Following the match, Fernández shared a photo of himself, Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes laughing on Instagram. A challenge for the ball with Cubarsí resulted in Fernández receiving a second yellow card. In the final against Spain, he was given a second yellow and a red card after he fouled the Spanish player Pau Cubarsí, becoming the first player to be sent off in a FIFA World Cup final since John Heitinga in 2010. Fernández took a couple of minutes to leave the pitch, kicking a pitch-side microphone in apparent frustration. Argentina then lost the game 1–0 in extra time.

Fernández plays quick short passes, accurate long passes, and lobbed balls. He is combative in his midfield duels, protects spaces and his backline efficiently, and possesses good passing range and vision. He can dribble into dangerous territory or out of it. He thrives in receiving the ball in tight spaces and is press-resistant. He is adept at breaking defensive lines with his passes, playing through balls, as well as recycling possession in the midfield. Out of possession, Fernández looks to proactively disrupt opposition attack, anticipate and intercept passes.

Personal life Fernández is named after three-time Copa América winner and former River Plate player Enzo Francescoli, due to his father Raúl's fascination with the Uruguayan. He said that his favourite player is Lionel Messi. In October 2024, Cervantes announced their separation on an Instagram story writing (translated from Spanish) "Enzo and I have decided to take some distance from each other today. But we will always be family, and we will support each other in everything, because there are two children involved who need a lot of love from us. I know the person Enzo is, what an excellent father he is, and what heart he has. And that is enough for me. Please don't try to create conflicts where there are none." Reportedly, Fernández initiated the separation in order to enjoy the single life he missed out on in his youth. The couple reconciled in 2025.

Fernández is a Christian. He was baptized and has said, "I am a believer. God truly changed my life. He truly transformed me. My heart, honestly — He transformed it."

Driving infractions In September 2024, Fernández was disqualified from driving for six months, receiving a 12-point penalty and being fined £3,020, following two driving offences committed in Wales in November and December 2023 by the driver of a Porsche Cayenne of which Fernández was registered as the owner.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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2019–20

+ List of international goals scored by Enzo Fernández No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition 1 26 November 2022 Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, Qatar 5 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup 2 28 March 2023 Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero, Argentina 12 4–0 7–0 Friendly 3 12 September 2023 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia 15 1–0 3–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 4 22 March 2024 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States 20 2–0 3–0 Friendly 5 25 March 2025 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina 36 2–0 4–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 6 27 March 2026 La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina 39 1–0 2–1 Friendly 7 7 July 2026 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States 46 3–2 3–2 2026 FIFA World Cup 8 15 July 2026 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States 48 1–1 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup

Honours Defensa y Justicia Copa Sudamericana: 2020

Chelsea UEFA Conference League: 2024–25 FIFA Club World Cup: 2025 FA Cup runner-up: 2025–26 EFL Cup runner-up: 2023–24

Argentina FIFA World Cup: 2022; runner-up: 2026 Copa América: 2024

Individual CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana Squad of the Season: 2020 IFFHS Men's CONMEBOL Team: 2022 UEFA Conference League Team of the Season: 2024–25