10 Years After Begging Messi Not To Retire, Enzo Fernandez Carries Him Into Another World Cup Final

Published 16 July 2026 · sports

10 Years After Begging Messi Not To Retire, Enzo Fernandez Carries Him Into Another World Cup Final Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 22:37

10 Years After Begging Messi Not To Retire, Enzo Fernandez Carries Him Into Another World Cup Final Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 22:37 IST Ten years after begging Lionel Messi not to retire, Enzo Fernandez scored Argentina's crucial equaliser against England before carrying his idol into another World Cup final. Rapid Read Enzo Fernandez celebrating with Leo Messi (X) Nearly a decade ago, Enzo Fernandez was just another heartbroken Argentine teenager desperately hoping Lionel Messi wouldn’t walk away from international football. On Wednesday night in Atlanta, he was the man helping carry his childhood hero into another FIFA World Cup final. It was a moment that perfectly captured one of football’s most remarkable full-circle stories. The Letter That Touched Argentina Back in June 2016, Messi stunned the football world by announcing his retirement from Argentina after another painful Copa America final defeat to Chile. “It’s over for me with the national team," Messi said. “It’s incredible, but this doesn’t work out for me." Those words devastated Argentina.

Among those crushed was a 15-year-old River Plate academy player named Enzo Fernandez. Unable to hide his emotions, Enzo wrote an open letter on Facebook pleading with Messi to reconsider. This was then 15-year-old Enzo Fernandez writing this on social media when Messi announced his retirement from the national team. These kids are now dying for him on the pitch. Its a fairytale ending to a perfect career. Not even in movies would this ever happen. pic.twitter.com/Gtv83FW8pj— J. 🇭🇷 (@JosipFCB93) July 16, 2026 “Do whatever you want, Lionel, but please think about staying," he wrote. “But stay to have fun—that’s what these people have taken away from you. Play to have fun, because when you’re having fun, you have no idea how much fun we’re having." From Fan To World Cup Teammate Messi never retired. Instead, he returned to lead Argentina into its greatest era, winning the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America, with Enzo alongside him.

Fast forward to 2026, and the roles had completely changed. Against England, it was Enzo who dragged Argentina level, smashing home the equaliser in the 85th minute from Messi’s clever corner routine after Thomas Tuchel’s side had defended deep to protect Anthony Gordon’s opener. Minutes later, Messi produced another moment of magic, floating a cross onto Lautaro Martinez’s head for the stoppage-time winner that sealed a dramatic 2-1 comeback. As the final whistle blew, Enzo hoisted Messi onto his shoulders while Argentina celebrated reaching a second straight World Cup final. Football really couldn’t have written a better script. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What other players have had similar full-circle journeys? Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal share a unique full-circle journey, having been photographed together in 2007 when Messi was 20 and Yamal was a si month-old baby during a UNICEF charity shoot. Will Argentina win another World Cup with this team?