Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup produced another memorable moment after the final whistle, as Lionel Messi and several teammates were filmed inspecting Jordan Pickford’s water bottle, which is said to contain detailed notes on Argentina’s penalty takers.The footage quickly went viral on social media after Argentina secured their place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.
Argentina narrowly avoided a penalty shootout
England looked set to reach the final after Anthony Gordon gave Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead in the 55th minute.But Argentina mounted another late comeback. Enzo Fernández leveled the game in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed home Messi’s cross in stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 win, ensuring the reigning world champions advanced without the need for extra time or penalties.That late winner also meant that Pickford never got the chance to use the notes said to be attached to his bottle.
Pickford’s bottle grabs Argentina’s attention
Pickford has long been known for preparing detailed penalty sheets during major tournaments, with notes affixed to his water bottle to help identify opponents’ preferred placement.After the final whistle, television cameras captured several Argentinian players gathering around the English goalkeeper’s bottle, reading handwritten notes that had been prepared in anticipation of a possible shootout.Messi was seen grinning and shaking his head alongside Enzo Fernández and other teammates as they examined the bottle, with the group looking amused that the carefully prepared plans went unused.Although it has been widely reported that the notes mapped Argentina’s criminals, the exact contents of the bottle have not been officially confirmed.
Attention to every detail
The incident also highlighted how finely balanced the contest had become during the final stages.With the game level late on, Argentina’s players took an interest in Pickford’s preparations as the possibility of a penalty loomed. Instead, Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner made every shot pointless.Pickford’s light-hearted exchange with the bottle provided a fitting conclusion to a dramatic semi-final, with Messi’s smile reflecting relief and satisfaction after Argentina avoided what could have been another tense penalty shootout.Instead of facing one of football’s most effective goalkeepers from 12 yards, Argentina finished the job in normal time and will now turn their attention to a blockbuster world cup final against Spain.