World Cup winners Argentina return to play on Thursday at Chile, where Lionel Messi could play his first game for the national team in seven months after dealing with injuries during the previous international break.

Chile host Argentina on Thursday during the latest round of World Cup qualifying action. Ahead of kickoff, both teams have named their starting lineups. The hosts see big names Arturo Vidal and

Left out of the starting XI against Chile in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, Lionel Messi will reportedly begin on the bench for Argentina—reports have surfaced explaining the reason. Lionel Messi’s long-awaited return to the Argentina national team had fans excited to see him shine in the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.