Gabriel Martinelli struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to rescue Brazil from the brink of elimination and secure a 2-1 victory over Japan in the World Cup 2026 last 32. The dramatic winner completed a second-half comeback that sent the five-time champions into the last 16, while extending Japan’s wait for a first-ever knockout victory at the tournament.
The Seleção appeared destined for their earliest World Cup exit after a sluggish first-half display left them trailing to Kaishu Sano’s 29th-minute strike. The Japanese midfielder dispossessed Danilo and fired low past the goalkeeper to punish Brazilian hesitancy in defence. Hajime Moriyasu’s side controlled the opening period, restricting Vinícius Júnior through diligent work from Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ritsu Doan, and Brazil reached the interval fortunate to remain within one goal.
Ancelotti’s half-time transformation
Carlo Ancelotti’s intervention at the break transformed the contest. The introduction of Endrick and a shift to a more direct 4-2-3-1 formation injected urgency into Brazil’s attack. The change yielded dividends after 56 minutes when Casemiro rose to meet Gabriel Magalhães’s chipped delivery, heading firmly beyond Zion Suzuki to level the scores.
The equaliser shifted momentum decisively. Brazil peppered the Japanese goal with crosses, with Bruno Guimarães forcing a sharp save and Vinícius Júnior striking the post after a deflected effort from the goalkeeper. Japan, seeking to protect their record of never having fallen at this stage, repelled waves of pressure until the final moments of added time.
Heartbreak for Japan
The decisive blow arrived in the 95th minute. Ao Tanaka lost possession on the edge of his own penalty area, allowing Guimarães to slide the ball across to Martinelli. The forward calmly converted to spark celebrations among the Brazilian contingent and seal Japan’s fifth exit in the first knockout round of a World Cup.
Despite the defeat, Moriyasu’s side delivered arguably their most complete tournament performance against the competition’s most successful nation. Injuries to key creators had not prevented them from outplaying Brazil for extended periods, though the failure to secure a maiden knockout triumph continues to haunt Japanese football.
Road ahead
Brazil now advance to meet the winner of Tuesday’s fixture between Côte d’Ivoire and Norway. Ancelotti’s side will need to address the midfield vulnerabilities exposed during their first-half collapse, though their capacity to prevail through adversity suggests resilience that could prove crucial in the latter stages. For Japan, the wait for a knockout breakthrough extends to at least 2030, despite evidence of genuine progress against elite opposition.