Messi Leads Argentina to 6-0 Friendly Win Over Puerto Rico in Fort Lauderdale

When Lionel Andrés Messi, captain of Argentina national football team delivered two assists in a 6‑0 demolition of Puerto Rico on Tuesday night, the result sent a clear message to rivals ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The match unfolded at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 14 October 2025, a venue chosen after the original site was scrapped, according to an Associated Press report. The game was billed as the Argentina vs Puerto Rico International FriendlyChase Stadium.

Historical Context: Argentina’s Road to the 2026 World Cup

Since lifting the trophy at Qatar 2022, Argentina has been fine‑tuning a squad that blends seasoned stars with a crop of youngsters. Manager Lionel Scaloni has rotated line‑ups in every friendly this year, a strategy aimed at preserving depth for the grueling CONMEBOL qualifying marathon that begins in November.

Back in 2020, Argentina fell short in the final play‑off for the World Cup, sparking a review of talent pipelines. The current group, however, has already posted a 100 % win record in the lead‑up, including a 2‑0 victory over the United States in June and a 3‑1 rout of Paraguay in August.

Match Details: Goal‑Fest and Messi’s Playmaking

The first breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Alexis Javier Mac Allister, the Liverpool midfielder, slotted a low‑drive after a quick one‑two with the Argentine left‑back. His second strike, at the 36th minute, completed a brace that highlighted his rising stature in the squad.

At the 23rd minute, defender Gonzalo Dante Montiel headed a corner home, pushing the tally to 2‑0. The second half opened with a bizarre own‑goal: Puerto Rico’s defender Steven Echevarria mis‑directed a clearing kick into his own net at 64 minutes.

From there, the party really got going. Striker Lautaro Javier Martínez, who plies his trade at Inter Milan, unleashed two late goals (79’ and 84’) that sealed the 6‑0 scoreline.

Messi never found the net, but his two assists – one to Mac Allister and another to Martínez – plus the pre‑assist that set up Montiel’s header, underscored his still‑potent vision. As beIN Sports commentator Rodrigo El Campo noted, “Messi was cheered all night; he may not have scored, but he built the attack.”

Reactions from Both Camps

Post‑match, Scaloni praised the depth of his roster: “We gave three debutants their first cap, and fifteen players saw minutes. That’s the kind of flexibility we need for the qualifiers.” The Argentine press hailed the performance as a “statement of intent,” especially given the roster shuffle – twenty different players started across the two friendlies played in the U.S. that week.

Puerto Rico’s federation, meanwhile, admitted the gulf in class was stark. In a brief statement, the federation’s president said, “Our team learned a lot today; we’ll take the experience into the Nations League and work on closing the gap.” The local media in San Juan echoed a similar sentiment, applauding the side’s perseverance despite the heavy defeat.

Impact Assessment: What This Means for the Qualifiers

The 6‑0 win isn’t just a vanity metric. According to football analyst María Gómez of ESPN, the result boosts Argentina’s goal‑difference advantage and, more importantly, confirms the readiness of younger players like Mac Allister and Martínez to shoulder the burden when veterans tire.

Conversely, the defeat highlights the challenges CONCACAF nations face when stepping onto South American soil. Puerto Rico, currently ranked outside FIFA’s top 100, will need to leverage the experience to improve its tactical discipline ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League fixtures slated for late October.

Future Outlook: Next Fixtures and Stakes

Argentina’s next qualifier arrives on 12 November 2025 against Uruguay in Montevideo, a match that could determine the South American leader’s margin in the group. Scaloni’s squad will likely retain the core that performed so convincingly in Florida, but he’s expected to rest a few minutes‑heavy players to keep them fresh.

Puerto Rico heads back to the Caribbean for a Nations League double‑header against Bermuda and the Cayman Islands on 22 October 2025. Those games will be a litmus test for how quickly the team can absorb today’s lessons.

Background Deep Dive: Argentina’s Friendly Strategy Since 2022

Since their World Cup triumph, Argentina has treated friendlies as “live labs.” The 2023‑2024 cycle saw the Albiceleste travel to Europe for matches against Portugal, Sweden, and Croatia, each time tweaking formations and rotating the back‑line. The aim has been two‑fold: preserve the core of the 2022 champions while integrating the next generation of talent.

Scaloni’s philosophy—borrowed from his own playing days under Marcelo Balmaceda—centers on confidence through continuity: “If a player knows the system, he can execute under pressure.” This friendly in Fort Lauderdale was a textbook example.