Watch: Messi's reaction after Argentina players find England goalkeeper's secret penalty notes
Argentina's dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final produced another memorable moment after the final whistle, as Lionel Messi and several teammates were filmed inspecting Jordan Pickford's water bottle, which reportedly contained detailed notes on Argentina's penalty takers.The footage quickly went viral across social media after Argentina secured their place in Sunday's World Cup final against Spain.Argentina narrowly avoided a penalty shootoutEngland 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 levelled the match in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed home Messi's cross deep into stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory, ensuring the reigning world champions progressed without requiring extra time or penalties.That late winner also meant Pickford never had the opportunity to use the notes reportedly attached to his bottle.Pickford's bottle draws Argentina's attentionPickford has long been known for preparing detailed penalty cheat sheets during major tournaments, with notes taped to his water bottle to help identify opponents' preferred spot-kick placement.Following the final whistle, television cameras caught several Argentina players gathering around the England goalkeeper's bottle, reportedly reading the 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 appearing amused that the carefully prepared plans ultimately went unused.While it has been widely reported that the notes mapped out Argentina's penalty takers, the exact contents of the bottle have not been officially confirmed.Attention to every detailThe incident also highlighted how finely balanced the contest had become during the closing stages.With the match level late on, Argentina's players reportedly took an interest in Pickford's preparations as the possibility of penalties loomed.
Instead, Lautaro Martínez's stoppage-time winner rendered any shootout unnecessary.The light-hearted exchange with Pickford's bottle provided a fitting conclusion to a dramatic semi-final, with Messi's smile reflecting both relief and satisfaction after Argentina avoided what could have been another tense penalty decider.Instead of facing one of football's most accomplished penalty-saving goalkeepers from 12 yards, Argentina completed the job in normal time and will now turn their attention to a blockbuster World Cup final against Spain.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
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