Lautaro Martínez’s header deep into stoppage time not only sent Argentina into a second consecutive World Cup final but also rendered England’s most meticulous preparation a mere curiosity. As the Argentine players celebrated on the Atlanta pitch, the team’s long-serving masseur, Marcelo D’Andrea, picked up a plastic bottle belonging to Jordan Pickford. Taped to its side was a cheat sheet mapping the penalty habits of every potential Argentine taker—a dossier that, because of the late winner, never left the touchline.

The match itself had seemed destined for extra time, if not a shootout. Anthony Gordon gave Gareth Southgate’s side the lead in the 55th minute, and Pickford produced sharp saves to protect it, denying Julián Álvarez and Nicolás González. Argentina, however, mounted a familiar late surge. Enzo Fernández levelled with a long-range strike in the 85th minute, and with the game ticking into added time, Messi curled a cross from the left that Martínez nodded past the Everton goalkeeper to complete the 2-1 turnaround.

Argentine television cameras captured the moment D’Andrea summoned Messi, Nicolás González and Marcos Senesi to inspect the bottle. The notes, written in English, left Messi momentarily puzzled; Senesi was seen gesturing to explain the instruction “fake left – dive right” beside the captain’s name. When Fernández joined the huddle, he quickly located his own entry and reacted with visible relief: the recommendation for Pickford was simply to stay in the centre, correctly anticipating the midfielder’s preferred placement. The midfielder smiled, bumped fists with the masseur, and pointed skyward. Hours later, fitness coach Luis Martín posted a photograph of the sheet on social media with the ironic caption, “Too bad, we didn’t have the same plans, mate.”

Pickford’s penalty crib sheets are a well-documented part of his tournament arsenal, having helped him deny Manuel Akanji at Euro 2024. This time, the intelligence—which also advised diving right for Julián Álvarez and left for Nico Paz, while leaving Thiago Almada to “feel”—went unused. Argentine outlets noted the squad’s amusement and relief, while English reports focused on the fine margins that left a shootout strategy redundant. The immediate consequence is a final against Spain in New Jersey, where the leaked notes may offer Spain’s Unai Simón a head start on Fernández’s central tendency, should the contest again reach penalties.