FIFA WC 2026: Gabriel Martinelli smashes World Cup record with latest-ever knockout winner

Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli etched his name into football record books, scoring the latest-ever winning goal in normal time of a FIFA World Cup knockout match.In a finish that will be replayed for generations, the Arsenal winger struck exactly at the 95:00 mark in regulation time against Japan in a thrilling round of 32 match, triggering absolute pandemonium in the stadium.

The heart-stopping goal shattered an 18-year-old tournament record and safely guided the Seleção with a 2-1 win over ths Asian powerhouse into the next round of the competition, avoiding the grueling lottery of extra time and penalties.

By finding the back of the net when the stadium clock read exactly 95 minutes, Martinelli surpassed Italian icon Francesco Totti for the latest match-winning goal in regular time during a win-or-go-home World Cup encounter.

Totti had held the prestigious record since the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he famously buried a high-pressure penalty against Australia at 94 minutes and 26 seconds.Martinelli’s late intervention also pushes Belgium’s Nacer Chadli down the historic list. Chadli had captured the world's imagination in 2018 with a phenomenal 93rd-minute counter-attack goal (93:41) to cap a legendary comeback victory against Japan in Russia.

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar rests right behind them, courtesy of his dramatic 93:18 spot-kick that eliminated Mexico in 2014.Knockout football at the World Cup is notoriously famous for its immense pressure, where one simple mistake can eliminate a country. Martinelli's ice-cool composure in the final seconds of injury time highlights the elite tactical maturity of this modern Brazilian side.As the referee blew the final whistle seconds after the restart, a visibly emotional Martinelli was mobbed by his teammates. While Brazil continues its quest for global supremacy, their young forward has already claimed an exclusive piece of football history, demonstrating that a match is never truly over until the final whistle sounds.Here is the list of top four players with latest goal scored in World Cup: