Argentina star outlines leadership dream
Fernández has experienced a remarkable rise since his breakthrough at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At just twenty years old, he played a central part in Argentina’s successful campaign and was named the tournament’s Best Young Player. That performance propelled him into a prominent role with both his country and his club. Now a key figure for Chelsea, he finds himself viewed as one of the most important midfielders of his generation.
With such rapid progress, it is natural that questions about leadership have begun to appear. Fernández acknowledged that the idea of becoming captain is something he thinks about, although he made it clear that the choice belongs entirely to the coaching staff.
“On a personal level, of course, I dream of captaining Argentina, but that decision does not come down to me,” he told Jacobs. “Of course, I dream of being the Argentina captain.”
The way he spoke about the topic suggested not entitlement but aspiration. He described leadership as something that must be earned through performance, consistency, and respect within the group.
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Messi’s presence and the weight of legacy
No conversation about Argentina’s leadership can ignore Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain remains the defining figure of the national team. His mastery on the field, his longevity, and the World Cup triumph he delivered in Qatar have placed him in a category that few players in the history of the sport can match.
Fernández was careful when discussing Messi’s future. He said he has no information about when the current captain might eventually step away from international football.
“I do not know when it might be,” he said. “Time will tell, and it is up to the coaching staff to make the decision.”
He added that Messi’s influence stretches far beyond the armband itself. For younger players, Messi provides an example of preparation, professionalism, and competitive spirit. Fernández said that whatever happens in the future, the habits and standards Messi has set will continue to guide the team.
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A national team preparing for transition
Argentina is entering a period in which it must look ahead while still carrying the confidence of its recent triumph. The next World Cup cycle brings new competition, new expectations, and new questions about how the team will evolve as certain veteran players approach the later stages of their careers.
Fernández said the group is aware of the possibility that the next tournament could be Messi’s final World Cup appearance. He described that awareness not as a source of anxiety, but as motivation to approach the next chapter with the same hunger that made the victory in Qatar possible.
The midfielder emphasized that Argentina cannot rely solely on past accomplishments. Instead, he said the team must embrace the challenge of preparing for the future with the same passion that defined the last cycle.
Ambition for 2026 and beyond
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Fernández told GIVEMESPORT that the national team intends to defend its title with pride and with a clear sense of purpose.
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“We will try to defend it and win it again, which is what this national team must do,” he said. “The Argentine people are so passionate and we always want more.”
He added that the squad believes it is capable of competing at the highest level once again. The memory of Qatar is not something the team wants to live on, but something it wants to build from.
Fernández suggested that the best way to honor Messi and the current generation is to continue pushing for excellence and to remain committed to the collective identity that has brought Argentina to this point.
“We know it could be Messi’s last World Cup, so we will aim to defend our crown from Qatar as a team,” he said.
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A player preparing for greater responsibility
Throughout the interview, Fernández struck a tone that is unusual for a player of his age. He spoke openly about ambition, but he never framed it as something he expects to receive. He discussed Messi’s legacy with admiration, but also with an understanding that the national team must keep moving forward.
Whether or not he eventually becomes captain, Fernández already sounds like a player preparing himself for a leadership role. His rise has been fast, but his outlook suggests he is thinking about what Argentina will need not only in the next match or the next tournament, but in the next era of its football identity.
Sources: GIVEMESPORT, GIVEMESPORT's Market Madness.
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