Argentina’s celebrations following their dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final took an unexpected turn after Lionel Messi and several teammates reportedly discovered goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s penalty cheat sheet on the pitch.
The notebook, which appeared to contain detailed notes on Argentina’s penalty takers, was found after the final whistle as players celebrated booking their place in the World Cup final. Television cameras captured Messi and other Argentine players examining the sheet before passing it around among teammates.
Pickford has become known for relying on handwritten notes during penalty shootouts, with the guide believed to include information on opponents’ preferred shooting directions and tendencies from the penalty spot. However, the document proved unnecessary during the semi-final as the contest was decided in normal time.
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England had taken the lead in the first half, but Argentina produced another spirited comeback after the break. The defending champions scored twice in the second half to secure a 2-1 victory and eliminate Thomas Tuchel’s side from the tournament.
The discovery of Pickford’s notes quickly became one of the most talked-about moments after the match, with photos and videos circulating widely across social media. Fans joked that Argentina had uncovered England’s “secret weapon” moments after knocking them out of the competition.
Messi, who played a key role in Argentina’s comeback, now turns his attention to the World Cup final against Spain, where the South American giants will attempt to retain the trophy. England, meanwhile, will face France in the third-place playoff as they look to finish the tournament on a positive note.
Although the cheat sheet attracted plenty of attention, it had no bearing on the outcome of the semi-final, with Argentina earning their place in the final through a resilient performance over 90 minutes.
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