Lionel Messi and Luiz Suarez, close friends and former teammates at Barcelona, will renew their on-the-field rivalry on Thursday in World Cup qualifying.

Messi, who appears to have recovered from a muscle injury in his leg, led Argentina to their third World Cup title last year and has his team in first place in the South American qualifying group for the 2026 tournament.

The 36-year-old Suarez has just returned to Uruguay's national team as he nears the end of a high-scoring season in the Brazilian league.

The Argentines will take on two-time World Cup champions Uruguay at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Also on Thursday, Brazil will travel to face Colombia in Barranquilla as they try to recover from a home draw with Venezuela and a loss at Uruguay in their previous two matches.

Brazil coach Fernando Diniz could use teenager Endrick after calling him up for the first time.

Messi will likely be playing his last two matches of the calendar year against Uruguay and then Brazil next week at the Maracana Stadium. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner finished his season with Inter Miami on October 21.

Suarez, a teammate of Messi at Barcelona, will return to Uruguay's national team for the first time under coach Marcelo Bielsa. The striker earned his place despite knee pain, which he doesn't hide during every match for Brazilian club Gremio.

Both Argentina and Uruguay are expected to qualify for the next World Cup, but Messi and Suarez are not guaranteed to be with their national teams in 2026.

Argentina left back Nicolas Tagliafico, however, is hoping Messi will stay in the mix if the team defend their Copa America title next year. "If we win, I think he might extend it a little more," Tagliafico told newspaper La Nacion.