Chile vs Argentina: Alexis’ Last Stand, Messi’s Quiet Conquest?

For Chile, it’s desperation. For Argentina, it’s dominance. 

This isn’t a rivalry anymore — it’s a reminder of the gap that’s opened up between two once-equals. 

Chile are at the bottom of the table with 4 games to go, facing the harsh reality of missing a third straight World Cup. 2 wins from 14, only 9 goals scored, and a blunt frontline that’s drawn blanks in 9 qualifiers. They’ve looked nothing like the golden generation that conquered South America in the 2010s. 

And now? They welcome the world champions. 

Lionel Messi returns. Argentina are already qualified, already champions, and now playing with house money. That usually means danger for whoever’s in front of them — in this case, a battered Chile side short on goals, confidence, and players. 

📊 Head to head: Chile (1 win), Argentina (10 wins), Draws (8) 

📊 Chile's Home Struggles: Just 3 wins in their last 22 matches in all competitions 

📊 Argentina's Streak: 3 straight wins in World Cup qualifiers 

📊 Chile’s Goal Drought: Averaging just 0.64 goals per match across all comps 

📊 Argentina’s Defensive Wall: Only 0.71 goals conceded per away game 

Chile are last. 10 points from 14 games, 5 points off even the playoff spot, and staring down fixtures against Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and a trip to the altitude of Bolivia. 

This is the definition of an uphill battle. Their opponents? Argentina are top. 8 points clear. 26 goals scored, just 8 conceded. They smashed Brazil 4-1 last time out. Even when they rotate, they don’t drop their standards. 

Chile are without Paulo Diaz and Luciano Cabral. Eduardo Vargas misses out again, while Alexis Sanchez — despite barely playing for Udinese — is included and expected to start. 

Argentina are without Mac Allister, but Messi returns after missing March’s internationals. Enzo Barrenechea and Valentin Barco headline the new faces, while Inter's Lautaro Martinez is available despite late-season knocks. 

Chile (4-3-3)🔴⚪️: Cortes; Loyola, Maripan, Sierralta, Suazo; Vidal, Echeverria, Pizarro; Osorio, Sanchez, Valdes

Argentina (4-4-4) 🔵⚪️: Emi Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo, Paredes; Messi, Almada, Alvarez 

🔹 The Return of the King: Lionel Messi is back. 191 caps, 106 goals, countless memories. This could be his final match in Santiago. 

🔹 Chile’s Fading Golden Boys: Vidal and Sanchez start, but the legs aren’t the same — and the spark is missing. Still, for Sanchez, it’s not just another match. It’s a walk into the past. 

 “In the Copa America final, when we beat Argentina, Messi did not stop crying,” Sanchez recalled in a recent interview. “When we celebrated the cup, I went to the Argentine dressing room and found him alone, crying and not wanting to talk to anyone. It was an emotional moment for me to see Messi, the player who made millions happy and made them enjoy the ball, was alone. The man who gave so much to the national team, everything he had, is crying, but now I am relieved because he finally achieved what he deserved with the national team and silenced the mouths of the press who were criticizing him. Now they will have nothing to say. He has already silenced them.” 

🔹 Scaloni’s Next Generation: Keep an eye on Mastantuono and Barco — the future of Argentina could get its first glimpse on Thursday. Argentina don’t need to win. But they usually do anyway. They’ve mastered rotation, kept their edge, and crushed their rivals. Chile, meanwhile, are stuck between the past and the abyss — relying on old names and fading dreams. This could be the end of the road. Unless Chile produce something extraordinary, Argentina are likely to leave Santiago with another 3 points