Last Gasp winner sends Brazil through

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 29: Gabriel Martinelli #22 of Brazil celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan on June 29, 2026 (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Gabriel Martinelli’s dramatic stoppage time winner sent Brazil through to the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With seconds remaining, Bruno Guimaraes slipped the ball through to Martinelli who finished in off the post to break Japan hearts.

Heartbreaking would be an understatement as the Asian side had matched Brazil all throughout the game, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side kept pushing and found the winner.

Japan were comfortable in the first half and most notably had control of the whole midfield, with Casemiro in particular struggling to match the intensity that Hajime Moriyasu’s side had brought to the game.

Kaishu Sano pounced on Danilo’s loose pass and hit a low driven shot into the bottom left corner to give his side the lead.

Brazil struggled during the first-half, but they came out a different side in for the second. Endrick replaced Paqueta at the break and this change enabled The Selecao to change their shape and sparked them into life.

Shortly into the second-half, Brazil found their leveler when Casemiro rose to nod in from Gabriel’s back post cross.

Just three minutes Vinicius Jr came so close to giving his side the lead with a fantastic run. The Real Madrid man nutmegged the defender twisted inside and out before his prodded effort was tipped onto the post by Zion Suzuki.

Japan calmed it down from there and got a bit of a grip of the game before Ao Tanaka’s last minute mistake was punished by Gabriel Martinelli.

Brazil will now await the result of the Ivory Coast vs Norway game to find out who they will face on Sunday.