I got some numbers ahead of Argentina vs Cabo Verde and both stories are wild in different ways.  
**Cabo Verde are playing the most extreme low block** at this World Cup. Average defensive-action position of 22.8 (out of 100, own-goal to opponent-goal), with 78.6% of their defensive actions inside their own third, 3rd-deepest of all 48 teams. It's not just a game plan, it's basically a wall. It's how they held Spain scoreless.  
**Messi is the #1 rated player in the entire tournament right now 9.20** average rating across 3 games, ahead of Mbappé, Dembélé, Vinícius, Haaland, everyone. 6 goals from 2.96 xG, more than double his expected output.  
**Argentina's own defensive shape is much more conventional 40th** of 48 in terms of depth, not as extreme as Cabo Verde. Also worth noting: their game vs Jordan was a heavy rotation match (Tagliafico, Palacios, Barco, Simeone in for regulars), and the pass network still shows the exact same central-hub structure, which is either reassuring or slightly concerning depending on how you view squad depth heading into tougher knockout tests.  
Curious about what people expect tactically, does a historically extreme low block actually have a chance of frustrating an in-form Messi, or does elite individual quality just break that kind of setup eventually?  
Source: FlickStat World Cup analytics - flickstat.com/worldcup/team/argentina

[OC] Cabo Verde have the 3rd-deepest defensive block of any team at this World Cup and it just earned them a 0-0 with Spain. Meanwhile Messi is statistically the best-rated player in the entire tournament, at 39.