Argentina is set to begin their Copa America title defense with a friendly against Ecuador on Sunday in Chicago. Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina aims to build on their recent success, having won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This marks the first time Messi enters a tournament as a defending champion.

The last encounter between these two teams was during the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers in September, where Messi secured a 1-0 victory for Argentina with a 78th-minute goal. Since then, Ecuador has maintained a strong record, with their only recent defeat being a 2-0 loss to Italy in a friendly match in March.

Argentina’s track record is impressive, as they haven’t lost a friendly match since 2019 and have only suffered four competitive defeats in that time. While Argentina doesn’t typically overwhelm opponents with high-scoring games, their consistent performance ensures they rarely lose.

For the upcoming friendlies, Messi is expected to get significant rest to prepare for the Copa America. However, he might play a full 90 minutes in this match to ensure ample recovery time before the tournament begins. Consequently, Argentina is anticipated to field a strong team against Ecuador.