There was heavy Chelsea representation at this year’s World Cup, although no one will be returning to Cobham with a winners’ medal.
Marc Cucurella’s Spain went on to win the trophy, beating Enzo Fernandez’s Argentina in the final. However, the defender’s move to Real Madrid was finalised during the tournament.
Not every Chelsea player who was called up for the World Cup managed to get onto the pitch, but for those who did, The Chelsea Chronicle has ranked their contribution.
What’s your message to Enzo Fernandez after his costly red card in the World Cup final?
He picked up 14 yellow cards for Chelsea last season 🟨
9. Trevoh Chalobah
Trevoh Chalobah has just made it onto this list after playing a minute in England’s chaotic 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off match.
Chalobah was not initially selected for Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad, so the centre-back will just be glad that he eventually got called up because of an injury and was able to taste World Cup action.
8. Kendry Paez
Kendry Paez was meant to be an important player for Ecuador at this World Cup despite his young age.
However, his development did not really go to plan last season and he ended up playing just 11 minutes in the tournament. Paez got booked in that time, so it was not a productive cameo.
7. Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato finished last season strongly, but the Netherlands have a strong backline, or at least on paper.
The 20-year-old was always going to be in for a real battle to get into the side, and in the end, he was only able to make an appearance in his nation’s final game, which they lost to Morocco on penalties.
6. Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson registered more minutes than the above names, but Chelsea supporters would have been expecting a bit more from the Senegal striker.
He failed to score in the tournament and eventually lost his place in Senegal’s starting XI. He is set to return to Cobham after his loan spell at Bayern Munich, but Chelsea could still sell Jackson.
5. Malo Gusto
Malo Gusto also played more minutes than the likes of Hato and Paez. He managed to start one game, but that was in France’s 6-4 loss to England.
His first World Cup ended in very disappointing fashion to say the least.
4. Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo guided Ecuador to a 2-1 win against Germany as captain, helping them to make it out of Group E.
They were beaten by Mexico in the round of 32, ending Caicedo’s tournament.
3. Pedro Neto
Had they not met champions Spain in the round of 16, Pedro Neto’s Portugal probably could have gone further at the World Cup.
As he does at Chelsea, Neto worked hard down the wing for his nation and managed to register one assist. He was one of Portugal’s best performers in the competition.
Where would this Chelsea team finish? 👀
2. Reece James
Unfortunately for Reece James, he picked up another hamstring injury, which caused him to miss a few games.
However, when the Chelsea captain did play, he was solid. England looked much sturdier with him in the side.
1. Enzo Fernandez
For both the right and wrong reasons, no Chelsea player at the World Cup made more of an impact than Fernandez.
The 25-year-old scored two goals for Argentina, including a stunning equaliser against James’ England and a late winner versus Egypt.
Fernandez was sent off against Spain in the final, but he was having a really good tournament before that.
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