Enzo Fernandez has been heavily criticised following his performance in the World Cup final.
The Chelsea midfielder, included in Argentina's final 26-man squad, made back-to-back finals after his late equaliser against England in the semi-finals helped the nation set up a showdown against Spain.
It wasn't to be for Lionel Messi and co. though. Ferran Torres' extra-time winner saw the holders lose 1-0.
And although the Spaniards were deserving winners after dominating the game from first to last whistle, it could have been different had Fernandez not had heaped the pressure on his teammates after being shown a red card in the 93rd minute.
How the Argentine media reacted to Enzo Fernandez's World Cup final performance
There was no disputing Fernandez's dismissal wasn't justified. The 25-year-old was booked in the first half for dissent but his second came after he went crashing into Pau Cubarsi which sent the defender flying into the air.
From that moment on, Argentina knew it would take a miracle to retain their crown, and of course, it didn't happen.
Consequently, the Argentine media have laid into the Chelsea midfielder following his crazy decision which ended up costing the nation the chance to lift gold.
La Nacion
La Nacion handed Fernandez a rating of four out of 10, claiming the midfielder “never looked comfortable” and seemed to be “playing out of sync” with the rest of the game.
Ole
Ole also rated Fernandez's final performance a four out of 10, saying he “lost his sparkle” against the eventual winners after playing a lot more defensively while focusing on “the dirty work role”.
Ole felt Fernandez looked “tired and exhausted” when making his challenge on Cubarsi... Only a slight understatement.
Clarin
National outlet Clarin gave Fernandez a five out of 10 rating but said his “sending-off capped off one of his worst matches of the tournament.”
Their report also added the Chelsea midfielder “offered little in attack” after being allowed to advance further forward following Leandro Paredes' introduction at half-time.
Fernandez breaks silence on social media
Amid the ongoing backlash, Fernandez has finally broken his silence with a statement post on social media, but has failed to address the role his sending off played in Argentina coming up short.
"As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just the result," he posted on Instagram.
"For years, this group has represented us in the best possible way. It teaches that competing isn’t just about winning; it’s about giving your all for the jersey and never giving up.
"It has been a privilege to be part of a group that always stepped up, competed at the highest level, and defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment.
"Wearing my country’s jersey is the greatest honour of my career, and I will continue to give my all every time I get to defend it."
The 25-year-old will now go away on holiday before returning to Chelsea and preparing for the start of the new 2026-27 season which will see the Blues travel to Fulham on August 24.
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