Video: Enzo Fernández’s tears cap decade-long bond with Messi as legend bids farewell to Argentina

Abdullateef Fowewe

A poignant full-circle story has been revealed about how Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández went from a teenage admirer of Lionel Messi to a tearful teammate during the Argentine great’s international send-off.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeNOdDnRl_k/?stkn=ejd0MXFleW00eDF6

Back in 2016, a young Enzo Fernández wrote a heartfelt message to Lionel Messi after he announced his retirement from international football following Argentina’s Copa América final defeat. Thankfully, Messi returned to the national team after just a few months.

Almost decade later, Enzo went from writing a message to his idol to playing alongside him, winning the Copa América and World Cup together.

Yesterday, as Messi said goodbye to Argentina, Enzo couldn’t hold back the tears.

He knows better than most just how special this journey has been.

In June 2016, after Argentina lost the Copa América Centenario final to Chile on penalties, a then-15-year-old Fernández—training in River Plate’s youth system posted a lengthy Facebook message pleading with Messi not to quit.

Excerpts included appeals recognising the pressure on the star, “How are we going to convince you if we could not understand that you are a human being, the best player on the planet but a person anyway?”

He urged Messi to stay and rediscover the joy of the game, closing with “Thanks and sorry… #LIONELMESSI.”

Messi reversed his decision months later.

The pair later shared dressing rooms as Argentina claimed the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and further success.

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Messi, 39, played his 208th and final match for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental.

He scored his 126th international goal from the penalty spot and contributed to the other goals before an emotional post-match address to more than 85,000 fans.

Messi described it as “the saddest day of my career,” saying he would miss representing his country but felt the time was right after a career spanning more than two decades.

Fernández, who has spoken previously of learning immensely from Messi, was among those visibly moved as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner brought the curtain down on his Argentina career.