Argentina made light work of 155th-ranked Puerto Rico, recording a 6-0 rout in an impressive display at home.

Surprisingly, it was Puerto Rico who had the first real chance, as Leandro Antonetti nearly caught Emiliano Martínez off guard with a long-range strike. The goalkeeper managed to tip the effort over the line, providing an early scare for the World Champions.

Argentina soon found their rhythm. Lionel Messi’s initial strike hit the crossbar, but the rebound fell to Nicolás González, whose shot was headed home by Alexis Mac Allister to give Argentina the lead. Moments later, Messi provided the assist again, this time finding Gonzalo Montiel, who volleyed in for his second international goal.

Mac Allister added his second of the night before halftime, rifling into the top corner after debutant Jose Lopez set him up.

Martínez was called into action again to parry Wilfredo Rivera’s long-range effort, but Argentina were largely in control.

In the second half, Argentina continued to dominate. Messi came close to scoring again with a header, only for Puerto Rico goalkeeper Sebastian Cutler de Jesus to make a smart save. The fourth goal came courtesy of an own goal by Steven Echevarria, who inadvertently deflected González’s shot into his own net.

Substitute Lautaro Martinez added two more, first finishing González’s cutback and then converting a Messi assist into the bottom corner, marking his sixth and seventh goal involvements in five appearances for club or country.

Argentina’s victory highlighted their defensive solidity as well, keeping yet another clean sheet—10 of their last 11 wins have ended without conceding. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s struggles against CONMEBOL sides continue, with no wins in seven head-to-head encounters.