Argentina vs. Ecuador World Cup 2014 Qualifying Game Schedule Update: Preview And Online Live Streaming [Watch & Listen]

Argentina and Ecuador will face each other in a hard-hitting match tonight, pitting two of the top three teams in South America against each other for World Cup qualifications.

The game, which is slated to begin at 5:00 p.m., EDT, will take place in Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa, known for its peaking altitudes and scarcity of oxygen for players who aren't accustomed to the height.

Although Argentina leads the South American qualifying group with 25 points, Ecuador ranks a close third in the group, bearing 20 points with rival neighbor Colombia.

Argentina has also won seven matches throughout the qualifying stages while Ecuador has won six.

While Argentina might have a strong international fan base, especially being the native country of FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Ecuador's track record proves that tonight's match might not be as one-sided as people believe it to be.

And as Colombia and Ecuador are both tied for second place, any outcome from tonight's game will have a tremendous impact on the possibility of an early berth at the 2014 World Cup.

But there's one difficulty that Argentina might experience during tonight's game that can ultimately define their result - their star player Lionel Messi is battling a sore hamstring and might not be playing tonight's match.

The FC Barcelona star has not played for the national team in over a month because of the pseudo-injury he has developed.

"I don't know if I'll play against Ecuador," Messi told several ESPN reporters.

"It was a long time with no footballing activity and playing at high altitude is very demanding. Anyway, even if I don't play, Argentina will go out for the victory as always."

Tonight's game will be another indication of how well the Argentinean national team plays without Messi.