Defeats, fights and a revenge that did not come: the figures and stories of Lionel Messi against the Red

Lionel Messi has concluded his international career with the Argentine national team after playing his 207th match, scoring 125 goals over a span of nearly two decades. His last game came weeks following Argentina’s run to the World Cup 2026 final, marking the end of an era defined by major tournaments, including one World Cup, two Copa América titles, and the Finalissima. Among the many teams he faced during his tenure, Chile holds a unique place in his history. Between 2007 and 2025, Messi played against Chile 13 times, securing eight wins, drawing four matches, and suffering one defeat. Two of those draws were decisive moments in the Copa América 2015 and 2016 finals, both of which ended in penalty shootouts. In those encounters, Chile emerged victorious, ending their long wait for a Copa América title. Messi scored five goals against Chile during these matches, contributing to key moments in Argentina's campaigns. His first encounter with Chile took place on October 13, 2007, in Buenos Aires, where Argentina defeated Chile 2-0 in a qualifier for the 2010 World Cup. At just 20 years old, Messi was already making an impact. His first goal against Chile came on October 7, 2011, in another qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup, which Argentina won 4-1 in Buenos Aires. A year later, on October 16, 2012, Messi added another goal in a 2-1 victory in Santiago. The 2015 Copa América marked a turning point. On July 4, 2015, Argentina and Chile met in the final, held at the National Stadium. The match ended 0-0 after extra time, and the deciding penalties saw Chile triumph 4-1. Messi converted his spot-kick, yet Argentina fell short, and Chile secured its first-ever Copa América title. This loss was particularly painful for Messi, who had previously lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. The 2016 Copa América repeated the scenario. On June 26, 2016, the two nations clashed again in the Centennial edition of the tournament, this time hosted in the United States. After 120 minutes of scoreless play, the penalty shootout saw Chile win 4-2. Messi was the first to take his shot, but his effort went wide. The defeat led to immediate consequences, with Messi announcing his exit from the national team. He cited the disappointment of losing four consecutive finals, including the 2007 Copa América, 2014 World Cup, and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América matches. However, his departure was brief. By August of that year, Messi had returned, participating in qualifiers once more. His return was tested in March 2017, when Argentina faced Chile in Buenos Aires. Messi scored the only goal of the match, converting a penalty. Another notable moment came in July 2019, during the third-place playoff of the Copa América. Argentina led 2-0 against Chile when a clash between Messi and Gary Medel erupted. Both players were sent off after a physical confrontation. It was the second red card of Messi’s international career, following his debut in 2005 against Hungary. The pandemic disrupted international competition, and it wasn’t until 2021 that Argentina and Chile faced each other again. On June 3, they drew 1-1 in a friendly match, continuing the complex relationship between the two nations.