Brazil 2-1 Japan, Martinelli nets 96th-minute winner; Zion Suzuki stood out

sportsJun 29, 2026421,394

Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score a 96th-minute winner as Brazil beat Japan 2-1 in their 2026 World Cup round-of-32 match in Houston. Japan led at half, but Casemiro equalised with a header after a Gabriel Magalhães assist to bring Brazil level. Martinelli, an Arsenal forward, squeezed a shot into the far post deep into stoppage time to complete the comeback. Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, 24 and born in Newark, produced several crucial saves, including a described world-class stop that denied Vinícius Júnior. The 95:00/96th-minute winner was noted as the latest winning goal in normal time of World Cup knockout stages on record since 1966. Brazil advance to the last 16 while Japan exit at the round-of-32 despite a valiant defensive performance.

Gear Fighter Gespenst

@callgespenst.bsky.social

"brazil vs japan is over custody of hatsune miku" incorrect, I don't know what Japan is playing for, but Brazil is playing for the rights to Saint Seiya.

41745d ago

Quoting this

Salvador4

The rights for Saint Seiya could be an entire cup in itself for LatAm.

OptaJoe

@optajoe.com

95:00 - Gabriel Martinelli’s winner for Brazil (95:00) is the latest winning goal in normal time of the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup on record (since 1966). Timely.

17545d ago

On Viewless Wings1

Another thing the 'hydration breaks' have ruined.

Charles Erb1

Surprised Qatar didn't have one later actually, with all that stoppage time.

Quoting this

caio11

os grammys da Beyoncé mds

República Pereréquia6

50 DO SEGUNDO TEMPO Falar 95 é igual grávida falando em semanas

KP 🏆🏆3

I DIDNT REALIZE GABI DID TOMI DIRTY NOOOO

adestradora de formigas2

porra a questão da natalidade no japão tá tão ruim assim que mandaram um cara com uns 70 anos pra copa?

wwxwashere.bsky.social

@wwxwashere.bsky.social

“germany and japan are strong teams, brazil isn’t the same anymore, paraguay has a weak team” well, GGEZ

11345d ago

Men in Blazers Media Network

@meninblazers.bsky.social

NEWARK BORN ZION SUZUKI SHINES FOR JAPAN 🇯🇵 Even in defeat, 24-year-old Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki put on a show vs. Brazil, making some crucial saves including one world-class stop which prevented Vini Jr. from scoring one of the goals of the tournament.

9545d ago

Men in Blazers Media Network24

The Parma goalkeeper showed his true ability just a short trip up the turnpike from where he was born 🧤 Born in Newark to a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father, Suzuki grew up in Japan where he represented Japan at youth level, and made his professional debut in the Japanese League at 16 🔥

sam-mayday-malone.bsky.social2

He overcame being born in newark very impressive

Quoting this

Dan Orlowitz17

I wish this wasn’t the only way to get Americans to pay attention to Japanese players, but I guess we should be so lucky to finally have a great keeper *and* depth at the position for the next couple cycles.

now.arsenal

@nowarsenal.bsky.social

Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner and Gabriel Magalhaes provided the assist for the first goal to help Brazil come from behind to beat Japan in the round-of-32 at the 2026 World Cup. The Arsenal boys have done it again. 🇧🇷

9245d ago

Dave C1

and what a GREAT actor he is unusual seeing him feign another injury !

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Brazil came from behind to beat Japan at the death in a thrilling 2026 World Cup knockout clash. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli slotted home deep into stoppage time. nyti.ms/3SrD7tp

Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli (22) celebrates after scoring his side's second goal d

5545d ago

Quoting this

Will_IA_n2

Quando came from behind melhor ter cuidado

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

World Cup spoilers: Five-time tournament champ Brazil beat Japan 2-1 on Monday in a match that was a nail-biter until the very end. After Japan led at the half, Brazil clawed back and scored the game-winning goal with less than one minute left in stoppage time.

4445d ago

Josephine Riesman

@josie.zone

As someone who doesn't follow sports, it's very funny to me to see what sides my social media friends take in big World Cup matches. Like, I guess in the Soccer Extended Universe, Brazil is a brutal imperial power and Japan is a smol bean that just deserves a shot at the big time

4445d ago

Sarah Archer3

Japan is also apparently in the lead regarding cool player names

Jared Cram1

Yes, that is accurate. Brazil has won five times, more than any other nation. No team from the entire Asian confederation has even made it to the final game, much less won.

THIS MACHINE LIFTS WEIGHTS1

It's funny how stuff like that works out in sports In Men's rugby the great superpower of America would be an underdog to almost all opponents

andré

@andre-carlisle.bsky.social

watching a world cup game in which zion suzuki is comfortably outplaying alisson, what a time

3645d ago

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)

@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com

🚨🇧🇷 Matheus Cunha reveals his reaction showing 5 World Cups to Japan player Kento: “I have nothing against Japan, they are great but he said some things about Brazil that we can’t accept”. “It’s about respect for us and our shirt”. 👋🏼