Argentina secured a place in next year’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw against Brazil, giving Lionel Messi his fifth and possibly final shot at winning the only major trophy missing in his career.
Second-place Argentina qualified after Chile lost 2-0 at home to third-place Ecuador. With 29 points and four qualifiers remaining, Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad cannot be overtaken by more than two rivals.
Competition-leading Brazil had already secured the first of South America's four direct entries to Qatar 2022. The fifth-place team goes into an intercontinental playoff for a spot in Qatar.
Brazil has 35 points, six ahead of Argentina. Both teams have completed 13 games, one fewer than scheduled because their encounter in September was suspended after seven minutes when Brazilian officials belatedly enforced Covid-19 restrictions. FIFA is yet to decide what to do with that match.
Few opportunities were available for Argentina and Brazil in a tense match marked by Messi's low key performance and Neymar's absence due to injury. Goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez and Alisson were just about spectators most of the match.
Messi, who played the entire match after recovering from a knee injury, said he felt well on the pitch. He played for only 15 minutes in Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay last week so he could recover to face Brazil.
"It is not easy to play with the pace that this match demanded," Messi said after the match.
He had only one opportunity from the edge of the box near the final whistle, but it was easily saved by Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.
Brazil player Fred, who hit the bar with a shot in the 60th minute, said his team's defense was once more tested and once more succeeded in qualifiers.
"Today we didn't score, we missed some opportunities, but once again we have a clean sheet," he said.
"We hope to arrive well at the World Cup."
The most controversial moment of the match in San Juan, in Argentina's Northwest, was in the 35th minute when Raphinha was hit by Nicolas Otemendi's elbow on his mouth and started bleeding. There was no video review of the move. The Brazilian needed five stitches during the break.
Brazil coach Tite sounded unusually upset with Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha and his video assistant referees about the incident.
"It is simply impossible not to see Otamendi's elbow on Raphinha," he said.
"Was that going to decide the match? I don't know. It was a great match, but there is an element (missing) that should be equal for both teams." Argentina's Scaloni agreed both teams had few opportunities, but focused on his team's direct entry to Qatar.
"This year was magnificent. We won Copa America, qualified for the World Cup, and we are in an unbeaten streak," he said, in a reference to his team's 17 wins and 10 draws since the 2019 Copa America semifinal against Brazil.
"To qualify so early, in such tough qualifiers, it is something to be proud of."
