Chelsea delete post as Fernandez celebrations enrage England fans

The Argentine’s celebrations against the Three Lions is likely to earn him a hostile reception from opposition fans next season.

Fernandez struck a swerving equaliser from outside the box in the 85th minute as Argentina fought back from a goal down to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday, booking the defending champions’ place in Sunday’s final against Spain.

England had led since Anthony Gordon’s second-half strike, and looked set to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 before Messi picked out Fernandez in space to level the scores. Two minutes into stoppage time, Messi again supplied the assist, crossing for substitute Lautaro Martinez to head home the winner and complete a stunning late turnaround.

After scoring, Fernandez sprinted towards the England supporters, cupped his hands behind his ears and stuck out his tongue before blowing a kiss – a moment of provocation that will not be forgotten by opposition fans when he returns to Premier League action.

Chelsea’s official account shared a photo of the celebration on X with the caption “Enzo Fernandez” and an explosion emoji, only to delete it shortly afterwards once the post drew an immediate wave of criticism from England supporters within the club’s own fanbase. The club has not commented on why the post was removed, but the backlash was intense enough that several supporters called for those responsible for the post to be held accountable.

Fernandez continued to needle England fans on Thursday, posting a photograph on Instagram that showed him with Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes, set to the Oasis track “Wonderwall” – the same song England supporters had adopted as an unofficial anthem throughout the tournament in north America, with the players themselves regularly gathering to belt it out after matches. The song was later stripped from the post when Fernandez reshared it.

The episode adds a fresh layer of intrigue to Fernandez’s Chelsea future, with reports in Spain continuing to link the 25-year-old with a move to Real Madrid, even as he prepares to lead Argentina’s midfield in Sunday’s final as they chase a second consecutive world title and a first repeat since Brazil managed the feat in 1962.

Fernandez has been a key figure for Lionel Scaloni’s side throughout the tournament, and Wednesday’s goal was the latest example of Argentina’s habit of finding a way through in the closing stages of knockout matches.