South American Footballer of the Year
Fernández would go on to net a total of eight goals in the 2004 "Clausura", and was named best young player of the season. In the 2006 "Apertura" he helped his team capture their 24th title and, in December of the same year, he helped them reach the final of the Copa Sudamericana, lost to C.F. Pachuca of Mexico, by scoring nine times in six games for the tournament. He left on a high note, winning the 2006 "Clausura" tournament and the South American Footballer of the Year award.