Chelsea midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, has sparked fresh controversy after seemingly mocking England on social media in the aftermath of Argentina’s dramatic World Cup semi-final victory, triggering criticism from Three Lions fans and prompting Chelsea to reverse one of their own social media posts.
Fernandez appeared to taunt England by uploading an Instagram post featuring himself alongside Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes with Oasis’ Wonderwall playing in the background.
The song had become closely associated with England’s World Cup campaign, with Harry Kane and his teammates regularly singing it with supporters during the tournament.
According to the Daily Mail, many supporters viewed the choice of music as a deliberate swipe at England following their heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.
Although Fernandez later reposted the image without the soundtrack, the original upload had already attracted widespread attention.
The 25-year-old could now face a hostile reception from English fans when domestic football resumes, should he remain at Chelsea.
Fernandez had already inflamed tensions during the semi-final itself. After scoring Argentina’s equaliser in the 85th minute, he celebrated by running toward the England bench and travelling supporters, cupping his ears, sticking out his tongue and blowing a kiss in their direction.
The controversy extended beyond the match as Chelsea found themselves under pressure after posting a picture of Fernandez celebrating on X, accompanied by an explosion emoji.
The post drew an immediate backlash from the club’s own supporters, forcing Chelsea to remove it.
The latest incident comes at a delicate time for Fernandez, whose future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.
The Argentine has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and was reportedly handed an internal two-match suspension in April after publicly expressing his desire to live in Spain.
Despite the speculation, new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has maintained that he wants the vice-captain to remain at the club.
However, the latest episode could further complicate his relationship with some of Chelsea’s English players and supporters.
England fans have also continued to question several incidents from the semi-final, including claims that Lionel Messi committed a foul in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal and suggestions that Fernandez should have been sent off for an alleged elbow earlier in the contest.
The “Wonderwall” post has only intensified the criticism, with many fans warning Fernandez that he should expect a frosty reception when he returns to Cobham.
Argentina’s attention now shifts to Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain in New Jersey, where Messi and his teammates will be aiming to retain the title they won four years ago.
Spain, meanwhile, will be chasing a second World Cup crown after defeating France in the other semi-final.
