Argentina 1-1 Chile summary: score, goals, highlights, Copa Ámerica
Argentina vs Chile: live updates
Game over!
And that's it. The first game of Group B ends 1-1 after a hard-fought effort from both sides.
Tagliafico wins a corner for Argentina and this will be the last play of the game surely. Messi takes, but the corner is cleared away.
Argentina attacking with one minute left to be played of added time.
Messi plays a dinked cross again from the left edge of the box. The ball is cleared and it's Messi himself who latches onto the ball as it comes back out. He tries a volley but drives the ball over the bar.
Seven minutes of added time to be played.
Messi delivers another free kick set piece from the left. It's a decent cross but the Chile defenders clear the danger.
Two more changes for Chile: Vidal and Medel are replaced by Roco and Alarcon.
What a chance for Argentina! Messi plays a beautiful dinked pass over the top and into the box towards Gonzalez who's between the penalty spot and six yard area, but he can only head it over. His screams of frustration can be heard clearly in the empty stadium. He's absolutely livid with himself for missing that "gimme" opportunity.
"I just wish Argentina could deploy Di María in his best PSG position. Back in France," says Daniel Edwards on Twitter.
Two changes for Chile: Vargas and Palacios go off; Beretron and Pinares come on.
Best chance of the second half for Argentina as Messi delivers the free-kick set piece from deep towards Lautaro, who steers his header towards goal but Bravo saves well.
Di Maria gets straight into the action with a strike from distance having picked up a Messi corner kick delivery by the far side of the box. But the shot is blocked down.
Two changes for Argentina: Lo Celso and Paredes make way for Palacios and Di Maria, who is on to make his 106th appearance for his country.
After a rather uneventful first half from Chile's perspective, they have looked the better side in the opening 15 minutes of this second half. Argentina have yet to create something since the break.
GOAL CHILE!
Martinez gets a hand to Vidal's penalty strike which sends the ball against the crossbar. But Vargas is quick to collect the rebound and drives the ball home with his head. 1-1!
The ref has checked the pitch-side TV and he calls the penalty for the challenge on Vidal! Argentina are furious.
Now there is a VAR check going on for a possible foul on Vidal as the Chile midfielder tried to latch on the rebound following Martinez's block from the original Vargas shot. Vidal made contact and drove his shot well wide, but was taken down at the same time by Tagliafico.
Chile have their best chance of the game! As Pulgar releases Vargas in the box. He's one on one with Martinez but blasts the ball straight at the keeper.
Not much to report in the opening five minutes apart from some niggly fouls from both sides.
Second half begins
Peep! The second half is underway as Chile kick things off.
Argentina could easily be 2 or 3 goals up, as Messi's strike partners Lautaro and Gonzalez came close on a few occasions. Chile have yet to create a significant chance.
ESPN point out that the free kick was Messi's first non-penalty goal for Argentina since the 2018 World Cup game against Nigeria! And his first direct free kick goal since 2016 vs Colombia.
Peep, peep! And the ref calls time on the first half with Argentina leading 1-0 thanks to Messi's stunning free kick strike on 32'. Argentina have been far the better side, while Chile have been physical and have three men in the book as a result of some rough challenges.
Lautaro slips on the turf as he ran in to challenge Medel and he accidentally takes down the Chilean defender as he fell. The playing surface does not look up to scratch.
Three minutes of added time to be played.
There is a VAR check going for a possible hand ball in the Chile box by Vidal. But, no, the ref blows his whistle to play on. VAR has not deemed it an intentional hand ball, and rightfully so looking at the replay.
Argentina almost make it 2-0! Messi weaves his way into the box before the ball finds its way to the feet of Lautaro Martinez, whose shot is blocked from 10 yards out.
Vidal becomes the third Chile player to go in the book after a nasty challenge from behind in Otamendi.
GOAL ARGENTINA!
Text-book free kick from Messi, who curls the ball over the wall and into the top right corner. Bravo had no chance of getting a finger to that. That's Messi's first-ever goal against Chile in the Copa América, and his tenth overall in the competition.
Lo Celso brought down cynically from behind by Eric Pulgar, who goes in the book and now Argentina have a free-kick just outside the box and well in Messi's range.
Lo Celso brought down cynically from behind by Eric Pulgar, who goes in the book and now Argentina have a free-kick just outside the box and well in Messi's range.
Messi expertly floats a pass wide towards Gonzalez, who is taken down by the defender as he tried to round him close to the corner flag. And now Messi has a chance to deliver the resultant free kick set piece into the box. The cross goes towards the near post where Otamendi is positioned but Chile deal with the danger.
Another Argentina chance! This time Lo Celso slots a lovely through ball for Gonzalez in space and goal-bound. He's one-on-one with Bravo, who does well to block the shot. Argentina are piling on the pressure now.
Argentina come close again! Gonzalez gets his head on the end of Messi corner delivery and his effort is just wide.
Great chance for Lautaro Martinez! Lo Celso plays a great ball into the box, with Lautaro latching onto the ball by the six-yard area as he got ahead of the defender. But the Inter Milan striker puts the ball over. He should have done better.
Argentina have found their feet now as Messi directs another attack, which is snuffed out by the Chile defense.
First shot of the game falls to Messi
Messi has the first shot of the game from inside the box on the left. But the Barcelona striker bundles his half-volley attempt uncharacteristically high and wide of the far post.
Chile have had most of the possession in these opening five minutes as Argentina have been forced to chase the ball. Lionel Messi had his first brief touch there before Argentina lost the ball again within seconds.
Aranguiz launches a free-kick set piece towards the Argentina box, but Otamendi clears the danger.
Chile enjoying some early possession as Meneses is brought down by Paredes in the center of the field.
Peep! The 29th meeting of these two sides in the Copa America gets underway in Rio.
Lionel Messi's Copa América record
The Argentine captain has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 27 Copa América fixtures. He has, however, never scored against Chile in the competition. But that could change this evening.
Chile warming up
Chile get to grips with the turf at the Olympic stadium. 20 minutes to kick off, which is at 5pm ET.
Argentina vs Chile: Head to Head
Argentina have won six of the last ten meetings between the sides, drawing twice on the last two occasions in June and back in Sept, 2019. Chile have failed to win any game of the last 10 in regular time, but have claimed victory in the two most important fixtures after penalties, the Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016.
Argentina team sheet is in
Starting XI: Martinez E., Montiel, Martinez Q., Otamendi, Tagliafico, Lo Celso, Paredes, De Paul, Gonzalez, Martinez, Messi
Chile team sheet is in
Starting XI: Bravo, Isla, Medel, Maripan, Mena, Aranguiz, Pulgar, Vidal, Palacios, Vargas, Meneses
The journey to the stadium
The Argentina team made their way to the Olympic Stadium in Rio a while ago ...
Messi on big dream
Speaking to the media ahead of the Copa opener, the Rosario-born striker stated: "I think this is the time to strike a blow and the chance could come in this Copa America."
"My big dream is to win a title with the national team. I was very close on many occasions and unfortunately it didn't work out. I will keep going until I can't any more."
"I've been lucky enough to win everything at a club level and on an individual level and it would be beautiful to win with the national team as well."
Pre-amble
Argentina's 2021 Copa America campaign kicks-off in Rio de Janiero as they face Chile in a tough Group B opening match.
Twice a losing finalist in 2015 and 2016 - each time to Chile - the Albiceleste came third at the tournament two years ago after losing in the semi-finals to Brazil.
While they did at least defeat La Roja in that bronze-medal match, those two penalty shoot-out losses were tough to swallow for Messi, who has been unable to match his remarkable club success for his country.
Only Uruguay (15) have won this tournament more often than Argentina (14), but their last title came in 1993 and they have lost four consecutive finals, having also been beaten in 2004 and 2007.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Copa América Group B clash between Argentina and Chile. The game gets underway in just under an hour (5pm ET), so in the meantime you can follow the build-up with us here. Team news to follow shortly.