World Cup: Teen's heartfelt letter to Messi resurfaces after Argentina's final berth

Argentina has reached the World Cup final following a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England, with Lionel Messi providing a pivotal assist for Enzo Fernández's equalizer. This match has prompted renewed attention to a touching letter Fernández wrote to Messi ten years ago.

The Sun highlighted the story of the letter, penned by a 15-year-old Fernández when he was part of the River Plate youth academy. At the time, Messi was facing immense pressure and had announced his retirement from the national team after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa América final. Fernández's letter was a heartfelt plea for Messi to reconsider his decision.

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If we in our lives have never endured 1% of the pressure on your shoulders, how can we convince you? You don't need to be responsible for failure, many fans' anger just comes from their own frustration. Do what you want, Lionel, but please consider staying with the national team, stay and enjoy football.

In the letter, Fernández acknowledged the immense pressure Messi carried, writing, "If we in our lives have never endured 1% of the pressure on your shoulders, how can we convince you?" He spoke of the expectations of over 40 million Argentinians and the public's demand for perfection, reminding Messi that he was only human. Fernández urged Messi to play for his own enjoyment and to remember his childhood dream of representing Argentina.

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I read this letter and was very grateful for the support of the younger generation of the national team, and I wanted to repay their support.

Messi did eventually return to the national team, and he and Fernández went on to win the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América together. Messi has previously stated that he read the letter and was deeply grateful for the support from the younger generation of Argentinians, which motivated him to give back. Fernández recalled the letter vividly, never imagining he would one day play alongside his idol.

Fernández, a midfielder, made a high-profile transfer from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023 for a fee of 100 million pounds. His journey from a fan writing a letter to a World Cup-winning teammate of Messi exemplifies a remarkable football narrative.

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I still clearly remember this letter, and I never thought that one day I would be able to play with Messi.