Jordan Pickford left a marked water bottle on the field during the tense 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina. The bottle had taped-on notes outlining penalty-kick habits of opponents. Argentine players spotted the markings and captured images before Pickford reclaimed the bottle. Their leader Lionel Messi and teammates later discussed the discovery after their hard-fought victory. The incident raised questions about fair tactics in high-pressure matches. Pickford’s notes were highly detailed that opponents could have gained an edge in potential shootouts.