EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Lionel Messi and Argentina return to action during Copa América 2024 against Chile tonight at MetLife Stadium.
It’ll be the second match for both teams in Group A play, but a rematch of the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals.
Argentine fans descended on Times Square in New York City and the team’s hotel in New Jersey to celebrate Messi’s 37th birthday on Monday night.
Here’s what you need to know as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates from the Argentina vs. Chile Copa América match:
What time is Argentina vs. Chile Copa América match?
Argentina and Chile will kickoff at 9 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. in Argentina.
How to watch Argentina vs. Chile live stream?
Argentina vs. Chile will broadcast on FS1 (in English) or TUDN and Univision (in Spanish).
Is Messi playing tonight?
Yes. Messi is in the starting lineup for Argentina’s match against Chile.
Canada beats Peru 1-0, how does it affect Argentina in Group A?
With a win over Chile tonight, Argentina would advance to quarterfinals with six points in Group A. A draw, however, would make Argentina’s June 29 match vs. Peru interesting.
Canada’s 1-0 win over Peru earlier Tuesday, puts the Canadians in second place with three points in Group A behind Argentina.
Argentina has three points from its win over Canada last Thursday, and a 2-1 goal differential over Canada before tonight’s match. Chile and Peru each have a point in Group A.
Alexi Lalas: Argentina is a home team in U.S.
FOX analyst Alexi Lalas on Argentina and Lionel Messi during pregame show:
“This Argentina team is a home team here in the United States,” Lalas said. “These are the world champions. They are the Copa America champions. They are defending their title. And they have the best player of all time.”
Argentina fans celebrate Messi’s birthday
Messi smiled and waved outside a hotel window to greet adoring fans on his 37th birthday Monday, in a celebration spanning from Times Square in New York City to the Argentine national team’s hotel in New Jersey.
Argentine fans wearing white and sky blue flooded the streets of Times Square on Monday afternoon – dancing, jumping and signing “Soy Argentino, Es un sentimiento, Que no puedo parar. (I am Argentine. It’s a feeling that I cannot stop).”
About 20 miles away at the Hilton Short Hills on Monday night, fans parked at a nearby mall and waited for hours to see Messi and several of his teammates, before staff members served two large sheets of dulce de leche cake, an Argentine favorite.
Read more about Argentina’s fans before Tuesday’s match.
Argentina vs. Chile match is a sellout
Tickets for Argentina-Chile match are sold out, Conmebol announced earlier today. It’s the second straight sellout crowd Argentina will play in front of after 70,564 fans watched the tournament opener last Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Argentina vs. Chile Copa América odds
Argentina has -225 odds to win, while a draw has +310 odds, and a Chile upset holds +675. The over/under is 2.5 goals, according to BETMGM.
Messi says ‘God chose me’
Messi, during another relaxed, introspective interview with Argentine journalist Juan Pablo Varsky, released Monday, said his soccer prowess and talent was a gift from above.
“It’s very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me,” Messi said. “It was a gift he gave me. I tried to take advantage of it, I did everything possible to squeeze the most out of it.”
Argentina wins Copa América opener, while Chile plays to draw
Messi waited until the 88th minute to leave his mark in the Copa América 2024 opener. He delivered an assist to Lautaro Martinez, while Julián Álvarez scored shortly after halftime to help Argentina beat Canada 2-0 last Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Chile and Peru played to a scoreless draw last Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Argentina vs. Chile Copa América history
Argentina and Chile have won three of the last five Copa América tournaments.
Argentina’s win came in 2011, setting the stage for its 2022 World Cup title run.
But Argentina endured losses to Chile at the Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016 – the latter causing Messi to briefly retire from the national team.
Messi leaves door open to play in World Cup
Messi remains the face of Argentina’s national team. He’ll be the star attraction in Copa América. And he’s open to playing in the next World Cup in 2026 — if his body holds up.
“It depends on how I feel, how I am physically and being realistic with myself. And to know if I am up to the task of being able to compete and help the colleagues next to me,” Messi said. “There’s a while left and I don’t know how I’m going to be at that moment.”
Messi says ‘there’s not a lot of time left’ in career
“I’ve done this all of my life. I love playing ball. I enjoy the training, the day to day, the games. Yeah, there’s a bit of fear that it’s all ending. It’s always there,” Messi told ESPN Argentina.
“It was a difficult step leaving Europe to come [to the United States] The fact we won the World Cup helped. It helped a lot, to see things in another way. But I try not to think about [retiring]. I try to enjoy it. I do that more now because I’m aware that there’s not a lot of time left.”
Messi continues to be big business off soccer pitch
Messi has a new drink, Mas+, debuting in the U.S. He was the hilarious punchline in a “Bad Boys” movie promo with movie stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. And if soccer fans aren’t already, they’ll be singing “O-Lays, O-Lays, O-Lays, O-Lays” after his commercials for Lays chips and other companies air all summer long.
