All the headlines will go to Lionel Messi after another mercurial performance that saw him become the World Cup’s best-ever goalscorer, but Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez was superb.
Messi scored a brace after missing an early penalty, taking his tally of World Cup goals to 18. He now has five goals in two World Cup matches, scoring all of Argentina’s goals against Algeria and Austria.
DEBATE: Bruno Guimaraes is a better all-round midfielder than Enzo Fernandez
Bruno Guimaraes vs Enzo Fernandez comparison
Credit: Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto/Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
But more importantly, that tally makes Messi the best-ever World Cup goalscorer in history, taking him above Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The duo had gone into the game level on 16, after Messi’s hat-trick.
However, it wasn’t just Messi that starred during Argentina’s impressive 2-0 win as Lionel Scaloni looks to take Argentina to a second World Cup triumph. Enzo Fernandez’s work rate was absolutely incredible.
Enzo Fernandez’s stunning stats in Argentina win over Austria
Like Messi, Fernandez played the entire 90 minutes, and according to FotMob, he was the third-best player on the pitch behind his captain and left-back Facundo Medina. Fernandez was handed a 7.7.
But it was Fernandez’s lung-busting work rate that caught the eye, something Chelsea fans will be wondering where it has been in a Chelsea shirt of late. An XG+XA of 0.23, plus five defensive actions.
Argentina v Austria: Group J - FIFA World Cup 2026
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Fernandez boasted the second-most touches on the night, behind only Kevin Danso, with 85. He found his man 63 times out of 70, a rate of 90%, and produced more passes into the final third than anyone.
Defensively, Fernandez was the author of two interceptions, one block, a breathtaking seven recoveries – again, more than anyone on the pitch – and was involved in 11 duels throughout, winning six of them.
If Jose Mourinho is watching, a £120m bid is forthcoming
Had Messi not stolen the headlines, Fernandez deserved them. In a midfield trio with Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul, the trio controlled the game in their narrow system and denied Austria chances.
Where was that work rate in a Chelsea shirt last season?! 😮
Enzo Fernandez's stunning stats for Argentina vs Austria.
They fed Messi when they could, but importantly they denied space for Ralf Rangnick’s side to do what they could. This was not an easy opponent; Austria are very viable dark horses to reach the latter stages.
Chelsea have slapped a £120m price tag on his head, with Real Madrid interested and Fernandez hoping he can make the move to the Bernabeu. If they were watching tonight, they will be making a bid soon.
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