Barcelona star Messi had given Argentina the lead just after the half-hour mark in the Group A clash at Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro with a curling effort which beat Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Chile responded 12 minutes into the second half as Vargas reacted quickest after Arturo Vidal’s penalty, awarded by the video assistant referee, had been tipped onto the crossbar by Emiliano Martínez.

Argentina, which had been due to co-host the tournament with Colombia before both countries were stripped of their hosting rights and the event was moved to Brazil, were the more adventurous of the two sides for the remainder of the contest but could not find a way past a resolute Chile defence.

"This match got complicated for us," said Messi.

"We needed to be calm, have control of possession and play more quickly. 

"The penalty changed the match, too."

In Group B, Paraguay got their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 comeback victory over 10-man Bolivia at Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico in Goiânia.

Bolivia, among the teams to have recorded positive COVID-19 tests at the tournament, went ahead through Erwin Saavedra's 10th-minute spot-kick.

The game changed in first-half stoppage time as Jaume Cuellar was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Bolivia held their lead until Alejandro Romero equalised just after the hour mark and Paraguay were ahead three minutes later thanks to Angel Romero, who added his second of the match late on to wrap up the three points for his side.