**Liverpool icon Alisson Becker celebrates as Brazil secures a thrilling 2-1 World Cup win over Japan thanks to a 96th-minute Gabriel Martinelli winner.**
Alisson Becker’s status as one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever grace the game is undeniable. Having recently secured the 16th spot on Liverpool’s all-time greats list, the Brazilian shot-stopper continues to anchor both his club and country.
As Alisson celebrates reaching a historic century of Premier League clean sheets, his focus has shifted to the international stage, where Brazil has just taken a dramatic step forward in the World Cup.
In a thrilling World Cup encounter in Houston, Brazil secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan to advance to the Round of 16, thanks to a clinical opening strike from Kaishu Sano in the 29th minute, a powerful equalizer by Casemiro in the 56th minute, and a heart-stopping winner from super-sub Gabriel Martinelli deep into stoppage time at the 90+6′ mark.
> Brazil steal it right at the death ??
>
> Gabriel Martinelli surely wins for his country in the 96th minute… [pic.twitter.com/Ptly6foaIL](https://t.co/Ptly6foaIL)
>
> — ITV Football (@itvfootball) [June 29, 2026](https://x.com/itvfootball/status/2071670251926724736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The foundation of Brazil’s defensive steel is heavily intertwined with the historic legacy being built at Anfield. Alisson Becker has officially taken 16th place on the Liverpool’s Greatest list, cemented as one of the most phenomenal goalkeepers ever to stand between the posts. Originally joining the Reds from AS Roma in the summer of 2018 completely transformed the trajectory of the modern Liverpool era.
This past season, he extended his legend by becoming just the fifth goalkeeper in Liverpool history to reach a century of top-flight clean sheets.
That exact same unyielding spirit was on full display in Texas as Alisson and his international teammates booked their spot in the World Cup knockout phase.
Facing a highly disciplined and technical Japan side, the five-time world champions found themselves in severe danger during the first half. Japan took a shocking lead after 29 minutes when Kaishu Sano pounced on a loose, misplaced pass in the midfield, driving forward before unleashing a perfectly placed right-footed shot from just above the half-circle that flew beyond Alisson’s reach.
Brazil’s response in the second half was relentless, though they found themselves consistently thwarted by the inspired form of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Suzuki made a series of brilliant interventions, first denying a powerful header from Bruno Guimaraes before spectacularly deflecting a goal-bound effort from Vinicius Junior past the far post.
Brazil’s intense pressure finally told in the 56th minute when Arsenal Gabriel Magalhaes turned provider, sending in a cross that allowed Casemiro to plant a firm header just out of Suzuki’s reach to level the scoreline.
As the clock ticked deep into six minutes of injury time and extra time felt completely inevitable, Brazil’s depth proved to be the ultimate difference. Gabriel Martinelli, who had entered the pitch as a tactical second-half substitute, timed his run into the box perfectly to slot home a dramatic winner in the 96th minute, breaking Japanese hearts and keeping their historical curse of never winning a World Cup knockout match intact.
The thrilling victory carried immense historical weight for the Seleção, as Monday marked the exact anniversary of Brazil’s first-ever World Cup championship back in Sweden in 1958, a tournament forever remembered for a 17-year-old Pele scoring two legendary goals in the final against the hosts. By navigating past Japan, Brazil secured their 12th win in 15 historical meetings against the Asian powerhouse.
Alisson and his squad will now leave Houston and travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they await a highly anticipated Sunday Round of 16 showdown against either the Ivory Coast or Norway.