Messi's Reaction to Pickford's Penalty Notes Goes Viral After Argentina's Win

Lionel Messi's reaction to discovering Jordan Pickford's penalty notes on his water bottle has gone viral following Argentina's dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semifinals. The match saw Argentina come from behind to secure their place in the final against Spain. Messi, who assisted both goals, also addressed his critics, highlighting the significance of the win and the pressures of high-stakes football. This article delves into the match highlights and Messi's candid remarks post-game.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 16, 2026, 10:38 IST

Messi and Argentina Celebrate Victory Over England

Following Argentina's victory against England, Lionel Messi's amusing response to discovering Jordan Pickford's penalty notes on his water bottle has taken social media by storm. After Argentina secured a spot in their second consecutive final, Messi and his teammates stumbled upon Pickford's bottle, which contained notes detailing the preferred penalty spots of Argentine players. The England goalkeeper is known for keeping such cheat sheets during major tournaments to aid in predicting opponents' penalty shots.

A funny moment after the match: Messi and several Argentina players were caught taking a look at Jordan Pickford's water bottle, which reportedly had notes on where each Argentine player would place their penalty.Messi's reaction. 😭 pic.twitter.com/85skEeHody
— MessiXtra (@MessiXtraHQ) July 16, 2026

Argentina managed to turn the game around, defeating England 2-1 and setting up a final showdown with Spain. Throughout the knockout stage, Argentina has faced challenges, often trailing in crucial matches, yet they have consistently found a way to win. In this match, they were down until the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez scored to equalize after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute. Just two minutes into extra time, Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive goal, with Messi assisting both goals, continuing his remarkable performance at the FIFA World Cup. He has netted eight goals in the tournament, tying with Kylian Mbappe, but boasts more assists than the French star.

During the FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina has come close to a penalty shootout, but Pickford's notes have yet to be put to use, although he remains unfazed.

Messi Responds to Critics

Messi Hits Back At Critics

In the wake of Argentina's semifinal triumph, Lionel Messi addressed his critics. He expressed that had Argentina lost to England, there would have been a barrage of unfounded criticisms directed at the team. Messi stated, "If we had lost against England, people would have come out and talked some nonsense about us, but we didn't give them the chance. We were fortunate to win, especially considering the significance of this match." He further emphasized, "We knew we were better in football terms, but many factors come into play in a match of this magnitude, especially with the historical context. This victory is special due to its implications, and we had to secure it."