Chelsea deleted a social media post celebrating Enzo Fernandez’s goal for Argentina after his equaliser helped knock England out of the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

The club had posted an image of Fernandez celebrating at Atlanta Stadium with only his name and an explosion emoji before removing it amid backlash from supporters.

Reaction to the post focused less on the football and more on what it said about the club’s relationship with a player whose future at Stamford Bridge is still unsettled. Fernandez has spent much of this year at the centre of exit speculation.

Which made Chelsea’s celebration of his biggest moment at the tournament feel awkward.

How Fernandez Helped Argentina Eliminate England

Fernandez's 85th-minute equaliser from long range levelled the match at 1-1, dragging Argentina back into a tie they had trailed for most of the evening. Seven minutes later, Lautaro Martínez headed in a Lionel Messi cross to complete the comeback and secure a 2-1 win.

The result sends Argentina into the World Cup final against Spain on Sunday, July 19, ending Thomas Tuchel's England campaign at the semi-final stage.

Why Chelsea's Social Media Post Was Deleted

Chelsea’s post had no caption beyond Fernandez’s name and an emoji, and it went out across the club’s main social channels while the match was still going on. The reaction was immediate, with one supporter calling it “an absolute disgrace” as more supporters criticised the timing of the post.

The timing alone might have prompted some grumbling. What made it sharper was Real Madrid’s role in Fernandez’s exit rumours, which led the Spanish club to issue a formal statement this week denying any interest and saying it had made no effort, directly or indirectly, to sign him.

Seeing the club promote a player tied to that speculation, on the very night his goal knocked out the national team, struck many supporters as tone-deaf rather than simply badly timed.

What Alonso Said About Fernandez's Chelsea Future

Asked directly this week whether he wanted to keep Fernandez, new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso answered in a single word: "Yes."

The 25-year-old remains under contract at Chelsea until 2032, a deal that gives the club firm legal control over his future regardless of how much speculation continues around him.

His focus now shifts fully to Sunday’s final against Spain, the biggest test yet in a tournament that has already changed how some of his own club’s supporters see him.