Gabriel Martinelli's Last-Minute Heroics Propel Brazil to World Cup Last 16

Gabriel Martinelli stepped off the bench and into Brazilian folklore, snatching a 96th‑minute winner as Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 and book their place in the World Cup last 16.

One touch to steady himself. One ruthless finish. One stadium in Houston erupting.

Brazil dragged into a fight

Carlo Ancelotti’s side did not stroll through this tie. They were dragged into it.

Japan, sharp and fearless, struck first. In the 29th minute, Kaishu Sano punished Brazil, putting the Samurai Blue in front and silencing the Brazilian end. Brazil’s back line hesitated, Japan didn’t. The underdogs had the lead, and they defended it with the organisation and intensity that has become their trademark on the world stage.

Brazil, for all their possession, lacked incision before the interval. The passing was neat, but the threat felt distant. Ancelotti’s team walked off at half-time behind, with questions hanging in the humid Houston air.

The response after the restart was immediate and far more like it.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Brazil finally broke through. A superb delivery from Gabriel from the right carved Japan open. The cross arced over the crowd at the near post and found Casemiro lurking at the back stick. The midfielder rose, powered his header past Zion Suzuki, and dragged Brazil level.

Relief, not celebration, told the story. Brazil were back in it, but not yet in control.

Martinelli’s moment

The game tightened. One mistake, one flash of quality, was always going to decide it.

With the tie on a knife-edge, Ancelotti turned to Gabriel Martinelli, doubling the Arsenal influence on the pitch. Fresh legs, sharp instincts, and a taste for chaos. Exactly what the occasion demanded.

Deep into stoppage time, the pressure finally told.

The move began with a Premier League edge. Bournemouth’s Rayan snapped into a challenge on the edge of the box, winning the ball back when Japan looked ready to clear their lines. He immediately found Bruno Guimaraes, the Newcastle United captain pausing just long enough to see the gap.

The pass that followed was surgical. Bruno slid an inch-perfect ball between tired Japanese defenders and into Martinelli’s stride. One touch to set, then a cold-blooded finish, sliding the ball low past Suzuki. It kissed the post on its way in, just to stretch the drama to breaking point, before nestling in the net.

Brazil’s bench exploded. Japan sank to their knees. A goal made in England, delivered for a country that lives for these World Cup nights.

Afterwards, Martinelli struggled to put it into words. He spoke of joy, of his family, of the feeling of seeing Brazil celebrate qualification. He remembered hitting the post days earlier and knowing another chance would come. This time, he buried it. His fifth international goal, on his 26th cap, and the most important of his Brazil career so far.

Gabriel, ever-present at this tournament, moved to 21 caps, having started all four of Brazil’s World Cup games. Both Arsenal men now stand one match away from a quarter-final that could feature a familiar face.

On Sunday, Brazil will face either Norway or Ivory Coast. That could set up a meeting with Martin Odegaard and guarantee Arsenal colours in the last eight.

Havertz strikes, then suffers

While Brazil celebrated, Germany crashed out again.

Kai Havertz did his part in regulation time, but it was not enough to spare his country from another brutal World Cup exit, this time at the hands of Paraguay.

Julio Enciso gave Paraguay a 42nd‑minute lead, punishing Germany just before the break. Havertz dragged them back into it, attacking a cross from Florian Wirtz and heading in the equaliser to level the match at 1-1. It was a classic centre-forward’s goal: clever movement, decisive contact, a lifeline when Germany needed it.

Germany pushed. Jonathan Tah thought he had completed the turnaround in extra time, only to see his goal ruled out. The tension grew, the fear of another failure creeping in.

Then came penalties.

Paraguay held their nerve. Germany did not. Havertz was one of three German players to miss from the spot as the shootout slipped away and Paraguay produced a shock that will echo far beyond this round.

Afterwards, Havertz did not hide. He called himself speechless, admitted that this second World Cup had gone the way of the first, and labelled recent tournaments a disaster. He spoke of responsibility, of the need for players to look hard at themselves, and of the weight of representing a country with Germany’s history.

Two nights, two Arsenal forwards, two very different emotions.

One walking off as Brazil’s last‑minute hero, eyes fixed on the knockout rounds.

The other heading home early again, wondering how a giant of world football keeps finding new ways to fall short on the biggest stage.