10 Things About Enzo: Nicknamed the Musician, Nearly Gave Up Due to Poverty but Became a Trophy Collector

When Enzo Fernandez officially became a Manchester City player, the World Cup-winning midfielder began another new chapter in his career. He is already well known by countless fans on the pitch, but away from the game, details about the origin of his name, his impoverished childhood and his journey of growth remain unknown to many. Manchester City published a feature titled "10 Things You May Not Know About Enzo Fernandez."

1. His name came from an idol, honoring a Uruguayan legend

The name Enzo was not chosen randomly. His father was a devoted fan of River Plate legend Enzo Francescoli, and named his son Enzo as a tribute to the Uruguayan great. Francescoli won the Copa America three times and played at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, becoming a famous rival and legendary idol in Argentine football.

2. He came from an ordinary family and once considered giving up football to make a living

Hard work and sacrifice are key themes in Enzo's upbringing. His father Raul was a painter, while his mother Marta worked in cleaning services. Growing up in a financially difficult household, he had to take part-time jobs with his brothers and sisters from a young age to help support the family.

The burden of life once weighed heavily on young Enzo, and he seriously considered giving up football to work and help his family overcome difficulties. His parents repeatedly encouraged him and insisted that he continue pursuing his football dream, which eventually led to him becoming a World Cup-winning midfielder.

3. A product of River Plate's academy, he was a youth teammate of Alvarez

Enzo came through the academy of Argentine giants River Plate, joining the famous Buenos Aires club at a young age and sharing the youth setup with Argentine internationals such as Julian Alvarez and Gonzalo Montiel.

After being promoted to River Plate's first team, he made 51 appearances for the club and, as a midfield player, delivered an impressive tally of 12 goals.

4. His loan spell brought a transformation and made him known in Argentina

Joining Defensa y Justicia on loan in the 2020-2021 season was an important turning point in Enzo's career. During his time with the Buenos Aires club, he helped the team win the Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa Sudamericana. With a series of outstanding performances, he showed his talent to the entire South American football scene. The loan spell pushed him onto a much bigger stage.

5. Became a star at the Qatar World Cup and won Best Young Player award

At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Enzo was a key pillar of Argentina's title-winning team. He played in all seven matches of Scaloni's side and helped Argentina lift the World Cup trophy for the third time.

He won the tournament's Best Young Player award, becoming the first Argentine player to receive the honor and the second South American player in history to achieve it. Two years later at the Copa America, he continued to perform steadily and helped Argentina successfully defend the title.

6. A true trophy collector, winning titles with every team he has represented

Enzo has an extraordinary record: every club and national team he has represented during his career has won a major title with him.

- Defensa y Justicia: Copa Sudamericana, Recopa Sudamericana

- River Plate: Argentine Primera Division, Champions Trophy

- Benfica: Primeira Liga

- Chelsea: Club World Cup, UEFA Conference League

- Argentina national team: World Cup, Copa America

Wherever he goes, victories and trophies almost always follow him.

7. Fans in his home country gave him the nickname "The Musician"

Because of his accurate passing, wide vision and smooth control of the rhythm of midfield play, Argentine fans and media gave Enzo the romantic nickname El Musico (The Musician). It suggests that his midfield orchestration controls the tempo of matches like a musician performing a piece of music.

8. A versatile midfielder who can switch positions freely

Although Enzo most often plays as an attacking midfielder, his tactical adaptability is extremely strong. Coaches can use him as a defensive midfielder, a deep-lying playmaker, or push him forward to contribute in attack. His ability to play multiple roles allows him to fit various tactical systems.

9. Took over Benfica's No. 13 shirt once worn by Portuguese legend Eusebio

In the summer of 2022, Enzo left River Plate for Europe and joined Benfica, choosing the No. 13 shirt previously worn by club legend Eusebio.

However, his journey in Lisbon lasted only half a season, as he transferred to Chelsea in January 2023. Despite the short stay, he scored four goals in 29 appearances and still helped Benfica win their 38th Portuguese league title.

10. Messi publicly praised him: Extremely reliable on the ball and a phenomenal player

As Argentina's longtime national team captain, Messi has made no secret of his admiration for Enzo. After Messi announced his retirement from the national team, he evaluated the younger player in an interview:

"I am not surprised by Enzo's performances at all. I watch him train every day. He deserves all the praise and is a phenomenal player. He is excellent with the ball and extremely stable in possession."