Fort Lauderdale ( Florida )-Lionel Messi had two assists and helped start a play that led to another goal, as reigning World Cup champion Argentina beat Puerto Rico 6-0 in a relocated international friendly on Tuesday night.

The match was originally scheduled to be played Monday in Chicago, before promoters moved the game last week. Officials in Chicago said low ticket sales were to blame; officials with the Argentine soccer federation said the immigration crackdown in Chicago was responsible.

Playing on the field he calls home with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi flicked a quick lob to set up Gonzalo Montiel's score in the first half and then had a nifty back pass that created Lautaro Martínez's second goal of the night in the 83rd minute.

Alexis Mac Allister had two goals for Argentina, which also benefited from an own goal midway through the second half.

It was a peculiar matchup in so many ways.

There were the circumstances behind the move, sparked at least in part by an immigration crackdown that had seen more than 1,000 arrested since last month in the Chicago area. Tickets were available a couple hours before the game for as low as $25, which is rare for anything involving Messi. The stadium was about half-filled at kickoff, though it did fill somewhat more as the match went along.

It also pitted the world's No. 3 ranked team, according to global governing body FIFA, in Argentina against the world's No. 155-ranked team in Puerto Rico - which even had some college players in its lineup.

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