Martinelli's injury-time winner sends Brazil into WC Last-Sixteen

Brazil staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Japan 2-1 and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (WC), with substitute Gabriel Martinelli scoring a stoppage-time winner for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Japan took the lead in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano, whose superb strike stunned the five-time world champions and gave the Asian side a 1-0 advantage at halftime.

Brazil emerged with renewed intensity after the break and levelled the score in the 56th minute. Gabriel Magalhães delivered a cross from the left, and Casemiro powered home a header to bring the Seleção back into the contest.

After equalising, Brazil dominated possession and created a succession of chances, but Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki produced several outstanding saves, including key stops from Vinícius Júnior and other Brazilian attackers.

Just as the match appeared headed for extra time, Brazil found the decisive breakthrough deep into stoppage time. In the sixth minute of added time, Bruno Guimarães threaded a pass into the box, and substitute Gabriel Martinelli fired a precise angled shot into the net to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory.

The statistics underlined Brazil’s superiority. The South Americans registered 20 shots, seven of them on target, compared with Japan’s five shots and two on target. Brazil also enjoyed 62 percent possession, completed 679 passes with a 92 percent success rate, and won the corner count 6-2.

The victory extends Brazil’s winning run and sends the five-time world champions into the quarter-finals, while Japan’s impressive World Cup campaign ends in heartbreaking fashion after conceding in the closing moments.