Having been born in Villa Bonich, San Martin – part of the Buenos Aires metropolis, Fernandez cut his very early football teeth at close-by junior team Club La Recova where he played with his brothers.

‘I spent my whole youth playing football with my childhood friends there,’ Enzo recalled shortly after winning the World Cup in 2022. He and his Argentinean team-mates will hope to repeat that glory in New Jersey tonight.

‘That’s pretty much how my life was when I took my first steps in the world of football. I gave my first kicks when I was three. When I was six, I started to play for River. I was six when I took part in my first training session!’

Having become involved at that early age with the world-famous River Plate club, Enzo continued to to play there until he turned 18.

‘After that, I was transferred on loan to Defensa y Justicia FC, and then I returned to River, and won the championship there,’ he said, describing River as like his family.

‘I spent most of my life in River, and I feel thankful for the love and trust they put in me. Putting that aside, I’ve been a huge fan of the club ever since I was a little boy. Everything went smoothly, so I feel very happy for having helped them. They helped me evolve as a player too.

‘We had to play Copa Libertadores too, but the league title was a wonderful experience for me. I always dreamt of achieving such a thing. I’d always attended the stadium, watched the games from the stands. Having fulfilled the dream of becoming a champion with them, that is priceless.

‘My family are River Plate fans although two of my brothers are Boca Juniors fans, but anyway, they’ve always supported me and have been there by my side. They highly enjoyed my success themselves.

‘My dad is a huge River fan. That’s why he called me Enzo, after Enzo Francescoli [a great attacking midfielder player with the club]. So my family was so proud I had finally fulfilled one of my biggest dreams.

‘River taught me values. I was given everything a player might need, even psychological assistance. They’ve always been there, I was never left behind.’

Enzo also values the season he spent on loan at Defensa y Justicia (he is wearing their colours top) prior to his real breakthrough at River Plate. At the smaller club in Buenos Aires, he came under the coaching wing of former Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo, who won the Premier League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

‘It was right after the pandemic came to an end,’ Enzo remembered.

‘That was a unique experience. He [Crespo] is a very special person. He’s always tried to support me, and I learnt a lot from him and his technical staff. He was my coach for four to five months until Sebastian Beccacece arrived, with whom we became champions of La Recopa [a Super Cup-style tournament].

‘He was a very important person, a great coach, although a bit crazy, as I used to tell him! But I learned a lot from both of them, and I feel grateful for everything they’ve given me when I was in Defensa y Justicia.’

Today, Enzo will try to etch his name even deeper in Argentinean football folklore when they take on Spain in the World Cup final.