Martinelli's Record Winner
Martinelli's 95th-Minute Winner Drives Brazil Past Japan, Sets New Record
Key Points
Casemiro's 12th World Cup match without a defeat ties the all-time record for most matches without a loss, linking him with Zagallo, Olarticoechea, Memphis Depay and Daley Blind.
Bruno Guimarães has emerged as the World Cup 2026 assists leader after delivering the stoppage-time pass that set up Martinelli's winner.
Martinelli's goal marked his fifth for Brazil in 26 appearances and was his first in a major international tournament.
Casemiro also became the second-oldest Brazilian to score a FIFA World Cup goal, adding another senior milestone to the win over Japan.
Gabriel Martinelli poked the ball past Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in the 94th minute and 51st second to send Brazil into the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 with a 2-1 win in Houston. The goal — assisted by Bruno Guimarães — broke Francesco Totti's 2006 record for the latest winning goal in normal time in a World Cup knockout match, which stood at 94 minutes and 26 seconds, according to FIFA.
Brazil had trailed Japan 1-0 at half-time before Casemiro headed home an equalizer in the 56th minute. The comeback marks Brazil's first knockout-stage comeback win since their 2002 quarter-final victory over England, ending a drought that has haunted the five-time champions for over two decades, Al Jazeera reported.
Martinelli's Last-Gasp Strike Rewrites the Record Books
Martinelli had been on the pitch for only minutes as a substitute when Bruno Guimarães threaded a pass through a packed Japan box. Martinelli poked the ball home at 94:51, hitting the inside of the post before it crossed the line, according to Sky Sports. It was his fifth goal for Brazil in 26 international appearances and his first in a major tournament. "I can't explain how I feel," Martinelli told reporters. "It'll only really sink in after a while. Thank God I managed to score today. I'm lost for words," per China Daily.
The record it broke belonged to Italy's Francesco Totti, who scored against Australia at the 2006 World Cup at 94 minutes and 26 seconds. Martinelli beat that mark by 25 seconds. The goal also capped a dramatic second half in which Brazil outscored Japan 2-0 after a flat first 45 minutes.
Casemiro Equalizes, Then Limps Off in Stoppage Time
Casemiro powered a header into the net in the 56th minute to level the score, converting a cross from Gabriel Magalhães, according to FIFA. The goal made Casemiro the second-oldest Brazilian to score a World Cup goal at 34 years and 126 days — behind only Bebeto, who was 34 years and 137 days old when he scored in 1998. It was also his 12th World Cup match without a defeat, tying a record held by Zagallo, Olarticoechea, Memphis Depay, and Daley Blind, per OneFootball.
The captain was then substituted off in the 90th minute after picking up an apparent leg injury, adding a major worry for Brazil's next match. His fitness is now the biggest question heading into the Round of 16, according to theScore.
Guimarães Leads All Scorers in Assists, Ancelotti Stays Calm
Bruno Guimarães now has four assists at the 2026 World Cup, matching single-tournament records set by Michael Ballack in 2002, Totti in 2006, and Juan Cuadrado in 2014, according to OneFootball. He said after the match: "We suffered until the end, but everything worked out. We had five finals ahead of us — now there are four left."
Manager Carlo Ancelotti credited patience as the key. "We didn't lose our patience," he said. "Japan is not an easy opponent. They are very organized and intense," he told China Daily. Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu called the result a "psychological issue," noting his side has now led in three straight knockout matches and lost all of them, according to The Guardian.
Brazil Face Norway or Ivory Coast Next at MetLife Stadium
Brazil advance to face either Norway — led by Erling Haaland — or Ivory Coast on Sunday, July 5, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, according to FIFA. The win has shifted the mood around the Brazilian squad. Analysts on CBS Sports Golazo called the comeback proof of Brazil's attacking depth, pointing to substitutes Martinelli and Endrick changing the game's tempo.
Not everyone is convinced. The Guardian noted that Brazil looked "shaky" for long stretches and relied heavily on aging stars and late fortune rather than tactical control. The debate over whether Ancelotti's patient, individual-brilliance approach can hold up against stronger opposition will define the rest of Brazil's tournament.
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