Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez produced a man-of-the-match performance as Argentina annihilated Brazil in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier showdown on Wednesday morning.
Even without Lionel Messi on the pitch, Lionel Scaloni’s side had the quality to put Brazil to the sword as they ran out 4-1 winners at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Fernandez played a starring role in Argentina’s five-star performance.
The Chelsea playmaker doubled Argentina’s lead with a close-range finish eight minutes after Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock.
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha pulled one back for Brazil, sparking hopes of a potential comeback.
However, Fernandez proved decisive again, setting up Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister with a delightful pass as the reigning World champions re-established their two-goal cushion.
Atletico’s Giuliano Simeone came off the bench to wrap up thehuge win for Argentina, but the spotlight was firmly on Chelsea’s £106 million midfielder.
Fernandez,who hasbeen linked with a move to Real Madrid, ran the show from the middle of the park but still had the awareness and desire to make ahuge impact in the final third.
The 24-year-old was exceptional on and off the ball. He had 67 touches and completed 47 out of 51 passes with a 92% accuracy.
In addition to his goal and assist, Fernandezalso recorded two key passes and created two big chances.
On the other side of the ball, the World Cup winner recorded two tackles and won four fowlsas well as seven out of 11 ground duels.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will hope Fernandez can return to Stamford Bridge with the same hunger and desire, although the Argentine midfielder has been in sensational form for the Blues this season.
He has been a mainstay in Maresca’s midfield and is one of the first names on the team sheet, featuring 35 times across all competitions.
He has repaid the manager’s faith with five goals and nine assists.
Chelsea will need Fernandez firing on all cylinders as club football resumes for the 2024/25 home stretch.
The Blues are locked in a seven-way tussle for Champions League football.
Theycurrently sit fourth but must treat the remaining nine games as finals, given theclose proximity of all seven clubs vying for a spot in Europe’s premier tournament.