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Enzo Fernández

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For other people named Enzo Fernández, see Enzo Fernández (disambiguation).

Enzo Fernández
Fernández with Benfica in 2022
Personal information
Full name Enzo Jeremías Fernández[1]
Date of birth (2001-01-17) 17 January 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth San Martín, Argentina
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder[3]
Team information
Current team
 Benfica
Number 13
Youth career
2005–2006 Club La Recova
2006–2019 River Plate
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 River Plate 40 (10)
2020–2021 → Defensa y Justicia (loan) 14 (0)
2022– Benfica 13 (1)
International career‡
2019 Argentina U18 2 (0)
2022– Argentina 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:51, 13 November 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:18, 30 November 2022

Enzo Jeremías Fernández (born 17 January 2001) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Argentina national team.

As an academy graduate of River Plate, Fernández made his first-team debut for the club in 2019 before spending two seasons with Defensa y Justicia on loan. There, he enjoyed a successful campaign which culminated in him winning the Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana, before returning to River Plate in 2021. Following his return, Fernández established himself as an integral player for River Plate in the following years, and won the Argentine Primera División. In July 2022, he joined Portuguese Primeira Liga side Benfica.

Fernández plays for Argentina, representing his country at under-18, before making his senior international debut in 2022.

Club career

River Plate

Early career

Born in San Martín, Argentina, Fernández was one of five brothers and started playing football at the age of six for local side Club La Recova for most his embryonic years, before joining River Plate in 2006.[4][5] After thirteen years spent progressing through the ranks, Fernández was promoted into the club's first-team by manager Marcelo Gallardo in 27 January 2019, in a 3–1 home loss to Patronato in the Primera División, despite remaining on the bench.[2] He made his first-team debut on 4 March 2020, replacing Santiago Sosa in the 75th minute of a 3–0 loss to L.D.U. Quito in the Copa Libertadores.[2] In the weeks prior, he scored once, in the 6–1 thrashing of Libertad, in four games at the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores in Paraguay.[2]

2020–21: Loan to Defensa y Justicia

Despite being sporadically used Fernández's manager advised him to leave the club on loan, in order to continue his development.[6] In August, Fernández was loaned to fellow top-flight club Defensa y Justicia.[2][7] He made his debut for the Halcón on 18 September by manager Hernán Crespo in a 3–0 win over Delfín in the Copa Libertadores.[2][8] Despite initially not being a starter, his performances impressed his manager and eventually he earned a place in the team, helping the club win the 2020 Copa Sudamericana, starting in the 3–0 win over fellow Argentinian side Lanús in the final, winning his first career title.[6]

2021–22: First-team breakthrough

After impressing on loan, Fernández returned to River Plate, during the season at the request of manager Marcelo Gallardo, making his return on 15 July 2021, in the first leg of Copa Libertadores round-of-16, featuring in the 1–1 home draw to fellow Argentinan side Argentinos Juniors.[6] He immediately became a starter and on 14 August, he scored his first goal for the club and provided an assist in a 2–0 win over Vélez Sarsfield in the Primera División.[6] On 20 December, he agreed to a contract extension to 2025.[9] Following a promising start in the 2022 season, which he scored eight goals and provided six assists in 19 games, Fernández was named the best active footballer in Argentina, being subsequently scouted by a number of established European teams.[6][10][11][12]

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.[13][14] Following River Plate's round of 16 exit from the Copa Libertadores, on 14 July, Benfica confirmed the deal,[15] being given the number 13 shirt, previously worn by club legend Eusébio.[16]

He made his debut for the club on 2 August, scoring his first goal the club, a half-volley from outside the penalty area, in a 4–1 home win over Midtjylland in the 1st leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, before also scoring in Benfica's next matches in the Primeira Liga against Arouca (4–0) and in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round against Midtjylland (3–1).[17] His impressive performances continued throughtout 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.[18]

International career

On 24 July 2019, Fernández was selected by the Argentina U18s manager Esteban Solari to represent his nation at the 2019 COTIF Tournament in Spain.[4][19] On 3 November 2021, he was called up by Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni for two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay.[6] He made his senior team debut on 24 September 2022, by coming on as a 64th-minute substitute for Leandro Paredes in a 3–0 win against Honduras.[20]

On 11 November, he was named in Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[21] 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.[22] 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, ten months and thirteen days old.[23]

Style of play

During his career, Fernández has been deployed in a deep-seated playmaking role as a central midfielder, responsible for breaking up play, dictating the tempo and recycling possession, although he is also capable of playing in a more advanced role as an attacking midfielder. He usually makes quick short passes, accurate long passes, and lobbed balls. He is very combative in his midfield duels, protects the space and his backline efficiently, he possesses a good passing range, excellent vision and high levels of accuracy, which is very purposeful in his midfield actions and can dribble into dangerous territory or out of it to devastating effect. He thrives in receiving the ball in tight spaces and is very press-resistant due to his wonderful low sense of gravity, balance and flexibility in his body movements. He excels at quick short passes, passing to break lines or to play through attackers running to space, but also passing in the means of keeping possession to move around and tire opposition shapes. Fernández excels out of possession, always looking to get into the right positions to stop of opposition attacks, disrupting moves, whilst also being in the right place at the right time to intercept passes. In addition, he is a good dribbler and can move the ball forward either through his passing. He prefers operating centrally but can sometimes be seen in the left half-space usually in a partnership with Florentino Luís.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

Personal life

Fernández is named after three-time Copa América winner Enzo Francescoli; due to his father Raúl's fascination with the Uruguayan footballer.[5]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 November 2022[2][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
River Plate 2019–20 Argentine Primera División 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 — 1 0
2021 20 2 0 0 — 3[a] 0 1[b] 0 24 2
2022 20 8 0 0 — 6[a] 2 0 0 26 10
Total 40 10 0 0 0 0 10 2 1 0 51 12
Defensa y Justicia (loan) 2020–21[nb 1] Argentine Primera División 4 0 2 0 1 0 10[c] 1 — 17 1
2021 10 0 0 0 — 4[a] 0 2[d] 0 16 0
Total 14 0 2 0 1 0 14 1 2 0 33 1
Benfica 2022–23 Primeira Liga 13 1 2 0 0 0 9[e] 2 — 24 3
Career total 67 11 4 0 1 0 33 5 3 0 108 16
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  2. ^ Appearance in Trofeo de Campeones
  3. ^ Four appearances in Copa Libertadores, six appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Recopa Sudamericana
  5. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 30 November 2022[2]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2022 6 1
Total 6 1
As of match played 26 November 2022. Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fernández goal.
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  Mexico 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Defensa y Justicia

River Plate

Individual

Notes

  1. ^ Soccerway counts Copa de la Liga Profesional appearances as league appearances.

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Argentina (ARG)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 1. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Argentina – E. Fernández". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Enzo Fernández". World Football. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Enzo Fernández: "En River tenés que tener una actitud mental ganadora"". River Plate. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Enzo Fernández, el juvenil de River que brilla en la Copa Libertadores para Defensa y Justicia". Clarín. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Enzo Fernández: o "herdeiro" de Francescoli que convence rapidamente". Mais Futebol. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Fernández: "Esta oportunidad que me da Defensa es muy importante"". Vavel. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Copa Libertadores. Enzo Fernández: la joya del semillero de River que se lució en Defensa y Justicia". La Nación. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Enzo Fernández renewed until 2025 with a million-dollar clause". www.ole.com.ar. 20 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Enzo Fernández, con el ADN de River, despierta interés en Europa". 11 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Reportagem: Tales Torraga - Na mira do Real e da Argentina para a Copa: Quem é o novo craque do River".
  12. ^ "Enzo Fernández, el que hace jugar y gritar a River". 24 April 2022.
  13. ^ "OFICIAL: Benfica tem princípio de acordo por Enzo Fernández". MaisFutebol. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Agora é oficial e com moldes diferentes do esperado: Benfica com "princípio de acordo" para contratar Enzo Fernández". Observador. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Enzo Fernández is a Benfica player!". SL Benfica. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  16. ^ "EUSÉBIO 'AJUDOU' ENZO FERNÁNDEZ A ESCOLHER O NÚMERO". A Bola. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Enzo Fernández e o hygge à Benfica". Tribuna Expresso. 9 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Melhores de agosto: Enzo Fernández é o Médio do Mês da Liga Portugal bwin". Liga Portugal (in Portuguese). 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Con Enzo Fernández entre los posibles citados, la Sub 18 defenderá el Torneo de L'Alcúdia". La Página Millonaria. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Messi bisa na estreia de Enzo Fernández". 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Lista de la Selección Argentina para el Mundial de Qatar 2022" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Argentina 2 Mexico 0: As it happened". Aljazeera.com. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  23. ^ Garcia, Adriana (26 November 2022). "Enzo Fernández: la figura que cambió todo desde el banco". ESPN. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  24. ^ "#AnthonyScouts2022 – Enzo Fernández". 17 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Enzo Fernandez — The Missing Piece to Final Puzzle?". 11 May 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  26. ^ . 18 September 2022 https://www.foottheball.com/players-in-focus/enzo-fernandez-stats-profile-river-plate-scout-report-transfer-news-analysis-potential/. Retrieved 19 October 2022. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ^ "SCOUTING THE PRIMEIRA LIGA: THE NEXT PLAYERS TO MAKE THE STEP UP". 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Enzo Fernandez – The Future Of Argentina and Benfica's Midfield?". 11 August 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Analyzing three of Europe's most promising central midfielders". 10 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Ficha Estadistica de ENZO FERNANDEZ". BDFA. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
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