Lionel Messi's return to the Argentina team was spoiled by Venezuela, who held the World Champions to a 1-1 draw on October 10, Thursday. Brazil secured a last-gasp win to edge past Chile.

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying gets back underway in what has been a topsy turvy run so far for South American teams through eight rounds of play. Lionel Messi will return for Argentina with the team still in first place during qualifying but Colombia and Uruguay are hot on their heels.

Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela on Lionel Messi's return as Brazil got their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Chile on Thursday.

Argentina lead standings with 19 points from 9 games, three points clear of second-placed Colombia, who suffered defeat to Bolivia.

An 89th-minute goal by substitute Luiz Henrique gave Brazil a much-needed 2-1 away win over Chile in a World Cup qualifying match.

Earlier, Lionel Messi’s Argentina drew Venezuela 1-1 in a match that was delayed for 30 minutes due to a wet pitch at Monumental Stadium in Maturin, Venezuela.

Chile, one of the worst-performing teams in South American qualifying, opened the scoring seconds after the kickoff at the National Stadium in Santiago

Botafogo man Igor Jesus was a surprise starter in the centre-forward role for Brazil, but he made a huge impact before the break when he flicked a header into the bottom corner after getting on the end of a Savio cross.

Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Thursday in Lionel Messi's return to international duty in the South America's World Cup qualifiers. Captain Messi, 37, fully recovered from an injury sustained in the Copa America final against Colombia in July,