Argentina vs. Chile in World Cup qualifier: How to watch Lionel Messi play Thursday

Lionel Messi is healthy and available to play with Argentina for the first time this year in a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday night.

Messi and the World Cup champions will be on the road playing against Chile at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile.

Argentine national team coach Lionel Scaloni was undecided Wednesday, unclear whether Messi would start or come off the bench against Chile.

Argentina has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and could use this match to play several young players on its roster. Several players are also suspended or won’t play to rest after long seasons.

Knowing it’s one of the few times Messi will wear his Argentina jersey this year, expect to see him in action representing his beloved home country.

Is Messi playing tonight in Chile?

Messi will not start and listed as a substitute in Argentina’s starting lineup for the Chile match.

How to watch Chile vs. Argentina match on TV and live stream?

The match will be broadcast by TYC Sports Internacional USA on DirecTV, YouTube TV, Sling TV and Fubo. Fanatiz also has a pay-per-view live stream available.

When is the Chile vs. Argentina match?

Chile will host Argentina on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET (10 p.m. in Argentina).

What did Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni say about Messi?

“We haven’t decided yet whether he’ll start the game or not. I need to talk to him, especially because it would be good to know how he’s feeling physically. We’ve talked about a lot of things, but not about this specifically,” Scaloni said about Messi Wednesday.

“We’re in a position where we can try other things, and in principle, he’s available to play. We’ll see. He had a good game last Saturday, so this guy is ready to play. We’ll decide how he is.”

Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after winning the Copa America final against Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024.

How fit is Lionel Messi before Argentina match in Chile?

Messi, 37, is coming off one of his best stretches in 2025, scoring five goals in his last three matches with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He was named MLS Player of the Month after seven goals and four assists in seven matches in May. He scored two goals with three assists in Inter Miami’s 5-1 win against Columbus Crew last Saturday.

When was the last time Messi played with Argentina?

Messi last played with the national team in November: He was scoreless as Argentina lost 2-1 to Paraguay on Nov. 14, 2024, and had the assist to Lautaro Martinez in a 1-0 win over Peru on Nov. 19, 2024.

Playing with Argentina before the MLS Cup playoffs last year, Messi was scoreless in a 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Oct. 11, 2024, then exploded with a hat trick and two assists in a 6-0 victory over Bolivia on Oct. 15, 2024.

Messi was unable to play with Argentina in March against Uruguay and Brazil, while he was recovering from an adductor strain. Argentina beat Uruguay 1-0 on March 21, and beat Brazil 4-1 on March 25.