Watch: Messi’s priceless reaction as Argentina find England goalkeeper cheat sheet

Argentina’s World Cup celebrations took an amusing turn after their semi-final win over England as Lionel Messi and several of his teammates looked at Jordan Pickford’s penalty sheet. During the following celebrations on the field Argentina’s dramatic win 2:1a member of the coaching staff picked up Pickford’s water bottle and passed it around the team. The bottle, which contained notes about England’s expected penalty takers and their preferred shooting directions, quickly became a source of amusement, with Messi, Enzo Fernandez and others smiling as they examined its contents.

The moment soon went viral on social media, especially since the match never went to a penalty shootout despite looking destined for one deep into the second half. England were on their way to the World Cup final after taking the lead and holding on until the closing stages. However, Enzo Fernandez grabbed a stunning equalizer in the 86th minute before Lautaro Martinez completed the comeback with a towering header in stoppage time to send the reigning champions into another World Cup final.

The Argentina players started laughing when they saw Pickford’s water bottle with their names written on it in case it ended in a penalty shootout. pic.twitter.com/AuUUk9dSev— valentine (@valentineezz2) July 16, 2026

With penalties a real possibility for most of the match, Pickford was ready. Like many modern-day goalkeepers, the England No. 1 attached a detailed penalty guide to his water bottle, listing the likely Argentinian spot-kicks along with their preferred placement. Such cheats have become commonplace in elite soccer, helping goalkeepers make informed decisions in high-pressure shootouts. (Courtesy: Fabrizio Romano X)

Pickford famously relied on similar remarks during England’s successful penalty shoot-out against Colombia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and again at Euro 2024, where pre-match analysis helped him deny Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji from the spot.

This time, however, the carefully prepared notes remained unused. Argentina’s late comeback ensured there was no need for a penalty, so Pickford’s water bottle instead became an unexpected prop in the winners’ celebrations.

Argentina will now take on Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final in a bid to secure a fourth World Cup title.

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Published on:

16 Jul 2026 11:15 IST