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A report from Metro on Thursday, July 16, 2026, revealed that Lionel Messi and several players from Argentina were intrigued after finding Jordan Pickford’s penalty notes following their 2-1 win over England in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina secured their spot in a consecutive World Cup final by coming from behind to beat England in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon put the Three Lions ahead, but Enzo Fernandez equalized, and Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal, allowing the defending champions to advance.
After the match, England’s goalkeeper Pickford reportedly left his water bottle on the field, which had a sheet attached detailing his strategy for handling a potential penalty shootout against Argentina.
Messi and some teammates examined the bottle, noting the thoroughness of Pickford’s preparation.
The notes allegedly included the preferred shooting directions of Argentina’s penalty takers, giving Pickford insight on where to dive if the match had gone to penalties.
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was also among those who checked the bottle and seemed relieved that the game ended in regular time rather than requiring a shootout.
It’s become standard for goalkeepers to carry penalty reference sheets during major tournaments, compiled from detailed analyses of opponents’ past penalty kicks to help them make quicker decisions during shootouts.
The report indicated that Pickford’s guide included instructions for nearly every Argentina player, except for Thiago Almada and the team’s three goalkeepers.
Ultimately, Argentina didn’t need penalties, completing their comeback within 90 minutes to reach the World Cup final.
Messi had another stellar performance against England, being named the match’s standout player after providing two assists and playing a crucial role in both goals.
The veteran forward completed 10 successful dribbles, created four chances, and consistently challenged England’s defense as Argentina turned the game around.
This victory propels Lionel Scaloni’s team into another World Cup final, where they will face Spain, aiming to successfully defend the title they won in Qatar in 2022.
