Chile vs. Argentina prediction, where to watch Lionel Messi, live stream: World Cup qualifying odds, lineups

World Cup champions Argentina are set to play Chile on Thursday. This match could mark Lionel Messi`s return to the national team after a seven-month absence due to injuries that kept him out of the previous international break.

Argentina secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup back in March, shifting the focus of this month`s CONMEBOL qualifiers towards Messi`s involvement as the countdown to next year`s tournament begins. While the 38-year-old (turning 38 later this month) once suggested his age might preclude him from the next World Cup, his continued participation with the national squad indicates a potential inclusion. Thursday`s game is one of the initial opportunities for Argentina, as reigning champions, to fine-tune their preparations now that qualifying is complete.

The team travels to Santiago to face hosts Chile, a side whose `golden generation` days appear to be behind them. The winners of the Copa America in 2015 and 2016 currently sit at the bottom of the 10-team South American qualifying table, having earned just two wins and 10 points from 14 matches. They are likely to miss the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Although their qualification hopes aren`t entirely extinguished – they need to close a five-point gap to reach seventh-place Venezuela, which holds an intercontinental playoff spot, with four games remaining – a defeat on Thursday would make it impossible to catch sixth-place Colombia, who are 10 points ahead in an automatic qualification spot.

Match Details

Last Encounter

The sides last met in September in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the hosts secured a convincing 3-0 victory. Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez, and Paulo Dybala scored for Argentina in that match, performing effectively even without Messi. Chile, in contrast, managed only one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Will Lionel Messi Play?

Seven months after his last appearance for Argentina, a key question for manager Lionel Scaloni is whether Messi will feature. Scaloni stated in his pre-match press conference that he had not yet made a final decision.

“I`ve been talking to him, we`ve continued talking, and we`ve been in touch recently,” Scaloni said. “Actually, for the match, it`s still undecided whether he`ll start or not. I need to talk to him, especially because it would be good to know how he`s doing physically. We`ve talked about a lot of things, but not that. It`s obvious, today we`re in a position to try other things, and in principle, he`s ready to play. Then we`ll assess whether he`s fit; he`s coming off a game last weekend. We`ll decide.”

Messi has been playing regularly for Inter Miami, completing 90 minutes in their last 15 games over the past two months, although managing his minutes has been a common practice in recent years.

Predicted Lineups

Player to Watch

Julian Alvarez, Argentina: Messi`s occasional absence through injury during this qualifying campaign has allowed Scaloni opportunities to prepare for a future less dependent on the Ballon d`Or winner. This has given players like Atletico Madrid`s Julian Alvarez chances to establish themselves in the national team, with Alvarez scoring three goals in qualifiers so far. The 25-year-old had a significant first season in Madrid, scoring 29 goals across all competitions, making him a vital attacking option for Argentina, both when Messi is unavailable and potentially at next summer`s World Cup as they aim to defend their title.

Team Focus

Argentina`s Evolving Look: Regardless of Messi`s presence, Scaloni has spent recent years building an Argentina squad that is younger and less reliant on its main star. While experienced players are often featured, this is because the core of his 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup-winning teams includes several world-class talents who were entering or in their prime. Julian Alvarez, for instance, was part of both squads and the recent 2024 Copa America run. The same applies to center back Cristian Romero. The 27-year-old is emerging as one of the top defenders of his generation, recently named the UEFA Europa League player of the season after Tottenham Hotspur`s success. The upcoming year provides Scaloni with time to further refine his talented roster, which is already well-positioned to compete for the title at the next World Cup, benefiting from valuable experiences with and without Messi.

Match Prediction

This match is clearly Argentina`s to win. Even with minimal stakes, the world champions are expected to find a relatively easy path to victory. This holds true whether Messi plays or not, as Argentina possess the quality to overcome a Chilean side that has conceded 21 goals in 14 qualifying games. Expect a comfortable win for Argentina, reflecting the significant difference between the two teams.

Pick: Chile 0, Argentina 2