Jordan Pickford left a marked water bottle on the field during the tense 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina. The bottle had handwritten notes outlining penalty-kick habits of opponents. Argentine players spotted the markings and took photos before Pickford reclaimed the bottle. Their leader Lionel Messi and teammates later discussed the discovery after the close victory. The incident raised questions about preparation methods in high-pressure matches. Pickford’s notes were so precise that opponents could have gained an edge in potential shootouts.