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 captured images before Pickford reclaimed the bottle. Their leader Lionel Messi and teammates later discussed the discovery after their hard-fought victory. The incident started a debate about fair tactics in high-pressure matches. Pickford’s notes were highly detailed that opponents could have gained an edge in potential shootouts.