Ethermac Exchange-Argentina vs. Peru live updates: Will Lionel Messi play in World Cup qualifying match?

Lionel Messi and Ethermac ExchangeArgentina's men's national soccer team will take the pitch together again Tuesday night for a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Peru. 

And it might be a matter of how much Messi plays, instead of if he’ll even play at all. 

Messi’s health has improved after a right leg injury limited him for much of the last month. He came off the bench for both Inter Miami and Argentina in his last two matches.

So, how much could Messi play against Peru? 

“Messi is fine, he has been training. We will make the decision (Tuesday),” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters on Monday.

Argentina’s match against Peru is set for 10 p.m. ET inside Estadio Nacional de Lima in Lima, Peru.

How can I watch Argentina vs. Peru? 

The match between Argentina and Peru will be broadcast by Fanatiz.  

What did Argentina’s coach say about Messi? 

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had an encouraging update about Messi's health on Monday. 

“Messi is fine, he has been training. We will make the decision (Tuesday),” he told reporters. 

And how much will Messi play against Peru? It will be decided after Messi and Scaloni convene about his playing status. 

“It is to speak with him and to ask him how he is. If he is well… It’s a question of minutes, of how much he can play. If he is well, you already know what I think. If he is well, he will play. There is nothing more to say.”

How did Messi fare in his last two appearances? 

Messi has needed time to shake off the rust following his layoff with Inter Miami last month. 

Messi’s rust showed as he hit the crossbar twice in Argentina’s match against Paraguay on Oct. 12. One of those instances included a free kick on goal, which Messi has routinely made since joining Inter Miami this summer. 

Still, it was a better outing than his Inter Miami return against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 7, when he didn’t have a shot on goal. Inter Miami lost 1-0, the club’s first loss with Messi in the lineup and one that ended their MLS postseason hopes. 

Messi missed six Inter Miami matches in September after he was injured in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador on Sept. 7. 

Where does Argentina stand in World Cup qualifying?

The 2022 World Cup winner, Argentina leads CONMEBOL qualifying with 9 points, followed by Brazil (7), Colombia (5), Uruguay, Chile and Venezuela (4), Ecuador (3), Paraguay and Peru (1), and Bolivia (0).

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, meaning direct entry will be granted to the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will compete in a playoff for a berth into the tournament.

What’s next for Messi?

With Inter Miami CF out of the MLS playoff picture, Messi is unlikely to play in Inter Miami’s last two games of the regular season: Wednesday and Saturday, both against Charlotte FC.

Then, Inter Miami’s two friendlies in China will dominate Messi’s schedule on Nov. 5 and 8. Inter Miami will play Qingdao Hainiu F.C. in Qingdao, China, on Nov. 5 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium and Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China, on Nov. 8 at the Phoenix Hill Sports Park.

Messi will likely return to the Argentine team for matches against Uruguay on Nov. 16 and Brazil on Nov. 21.