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 shooter tendencies of opponents. Argentine players noticed the markings and took photos before Pickford retrieved the bottle. Team captain Lionel Messi and teammates later discussed the discovery after the close victory. The incident raised questions about fair tactics in high-pressure matches. Pickford’s notes were so precise that opponents could have used them in potential shootouts.