World champions Argentina face Chile on Thursday, potentially marking Lionel Messi`s first national team appearance in seven months after recovering from injuries.
With Argentina already securing their spot in the 2026 World Cup, this month`s CONMEBOL qualifiers primarily focus on Lionel Messi`s involvement as preparations for the next tournament begin. Messi, turning 38 soon, had previously suggested his age might prevent him from participating, but his continued presence in the squad keeps that possibility open. Thursday`s game provides an early chance for Argentina, the reigning champions, to fine-tune their strategy now that qualification is complete.
Argentina travels to Santiago to face Chile, a team whose peak years (winners of Copa America in 2015 and 2016) are now in the past. Chile currently sits at the bottom of the 10-team South American qualifying group, with only two wins and 10 points from 14 matches. They face the prospect of missing the World Cup for the third consecutive time. While qualification isn`t mathematically impossible – they are five points behind seventh-place Venezuela for a playoff spot with four games remaining – a defeat on Thursday would likely eliminate their chances of catching sixth-place Colombia, who are 10 points ahead in an automatic qualification spot.
Key Information
Match Details and Odds
- Date: Thursday, June 5
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Predanos — Santiago, Chile
- Live stream: Fanatiz
- Odds: Chile +400; Draw +230; Argentina -130
Previous Encounter
The last match between the teams took place in September in Buenos Aires. Argentina won convincingly 3-0, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez, and Paulo Dybala. They performed effectively without Messi that day. Chile managed only one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Messi`s Potential Return
After seven months away, the main question for Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is whether Messi will play. Scaloni stated on Wednesday that he hadn`t yet decided. He confirmed they`ve been in touch recently but need to assess Messi`s physical condition before determining if he will start. Scaloni mentioned that Messi is coming off a weekend game but is generally ready, and they will make a final decision after further evaluation.
Messi has been playing regularly for Inter Miami, completing 90 minutes in his last 15 appearances over the past two months. However, managing his minutes has been a common practice later in his career.
Expected Starting Lineups
Chile: Brayan Cortes, Felipe Loyola, Guillermo Maripan, Francisco Sierralta, Gabriel Suazo, Arturo Vidal, Rodrigo Echeverría, Vicente Pizarro, Dario Osorio, Alexis Sanchez, Alexander Aravena
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez
Player Spotlight
Julian Alvarez, Argentina: With Messi`s intermittent availability during the qualifiers due to injuries, coach Scaloni has had opportunities to prepare the team for life after his retirement. This has given players like Julian Alvarez significant chances to establish themselves. The 25-year-old forward has scored three goals in the qualifiers so far. Coming off a strong season with Atletico Madrid, where he scored 29 goals across all competitions, Alvarez is a crucial attacking threat for Argentina, both when Messi is absent and as a key player for the World Cup defense next summer.
Key Storyline
Argentina`s Evolving Squad: Regardless of Messi`s presence, Scaloni has spent recent years building a national team that is less dependent on its superstar and features younger talent. While Argentina often fields experienced players, this is partly because the core of their 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup-winning sides included several world-class players who have since entered their prime. Julian Alvarez, as mentioned, was part of those winning teams and the 2024 Copa America squad. Similarly, center back Cristian Romero, 27, is becoming recognized as one of the best defenders of his generation, notably being named UEFA Europa League player of the season after Tottenham Hotspur`s victory. The coming year will allow Scaloni to further refine this talented roster, which is already well-positioned for a strong performance at the next World Cup, drawing on valuable experience gained both with and without Messi.
Match Prediction
Argentina is the clear favorite. Even with little at stake for them, the world champions are expected to secure a relatively comfortable victory. This holds true whether Messi plays or not, as Argentina possesses the quality to defeat a Chile side that has conceded 21 goals in 14 qualifying games. Anticipate a significant win margin given the mismatch.
Prediction: Chile 0, Argentina 2
