Martinelli's Last-Gasp Wonder Sends Brazil Through in Thriller

Gabriel Martinelli broke Japanese hearts in the dying seconds of a pulsating Brazil vs Japan World Cup clash at NRG Stadium, Houston, drilling home a 95th-minute winner to send the five-time world champions into the last 16. It was the kind of dramatic finish that defines tournaments — and nearly overshadowed a match Japan had every right to win.

Japan's Dream Start

Kaishu Sano capitalised on a Danilo howler early on, driving past Casemiro and slotting into the bottom corner with cold composure. For 45 minutes, Japan's compact five-man defensive block suffocated Brazil completely. No space, no rhythm, no way through. At half-time, a genuine World Cup shock was brewing.

'Crafty Carlo' Strikes Again

This is where Carlo Ancelotti Brazil tactics proved decisive. The veteran manager threw on Endrick for the ineffective Paqueta and immediately shifted the approach — forget the intricate passing, let's flood the box with crosses. Brazil delivered 28 of them in the second half alone.

It worked. Casemiro ghosted off his marker to power home a back-post header ten minutes after the restart — a goal straight from the Manchester United playbook. Check the results page to see just how consistently Brazil have turned these games around in this tournament.

Vinicius Denied, Japan Digs Deep

Three minutes after the equaliser, Vinicius Jr produced a moment of pure magic — nutmeg, drive, jink, shot — only for Zion Suzuki to tip it on to the post. It was the kind of individual brilliance that has Vinicius sitting high in the top scorers charts, and it should have been the winner.

But Japan wouldn't crack. Takehiro Tomiyasu's goalline block to deny Casemiro was a moment of sheer defensive heroism. With extra time looming, Japan looked set to fight another day.

One Slip, One Moment, One Legend

Then came the Martinelli winner World Cup 2026 that will be replayed forever. Ao Tanaka lost possession at the worst possible moment. Bruno Guimaraes slipped the ball through to Martinelli, who took one touch of absolute calm and slotted it off the post. Ninety-five minutes. Game over.

Brazil's Road Ahead

The Brazil last 16 World Cup tie sets up a meeting against Norway or Ivory Coast. After a group stage that included wins over Scotland and Haiti and a draw with Morocco, Ancelotti's side are finding their gear at exactly the right time. Follow the full tournament bracket to track their path and catch the schedule for when they're next in action.

Japan's Gut-Wrenching Exit

The Japan World Cup exit will sting for a long time. Moriyasu's tactics were near-perfect for 90 minutes, and doing it without injured stars like Endo and Mitoma made it all the more impressive. Their wait for a World Cup knockout-round win goes on — but they can hold their heads high.

Check the updated standings for the full picture of how Group D shook out, and head to results for every scoreline from the round of 32.