Football fans are in agreement over which player needs to be axed from Brazil’s starting lineup following their narrow 2-1 World Cup win vs Japan on Monday evening. Despite winning it late on with Gabriel Martinelli squeezing in a 95th minute goal, Carlo Ancelotti will not have been happy with everything he saw in Houston.

For decades, Brazil have carried a certain kind of ‘aura’ into tournaments that made them a feared opposition, despite being a shell of their glorified past. Now, it feels like their rivals are finally taking advantage of the reality of which the South American giants aren’t as good as their five stars would suggest, even if they got away with it this time.

And one player, more than any, showed that some deadwood still lingers in squad selections, despite calls from fans for years for him to replaced. It is unlikely he gets to start again in the Round of 16.

Brazil Ace is Being Begged to Retire Despite Round of 16 Qualification

Annegret Hilse via Reuters

Reacting to Danilo’s performance, which saw him produce the lowest Sofascore rating of everyone at the Houston Stadium, one X user wrote: “How Daniel is still playing professional football is unreal to me,” as a second added about the Flamengo defender (see the full post below):

A third remarked: “The age is really showing in this Brazil team. You’re not gonna get away with playing Danilo in 2026, be for real,” as a fourth continued: “Danilo minutes is malpractice.” Elsewhere, a fifth concluded: “Danilo mistake. It was embarrassing to call him up in 2022 why is he still around in 2026??”

Danilo’s Performance in Numbers

Troy Taormina / IMAGN Images via Reuters

Winners always find a way, but while the attackers put on a resilient showing in the second-half, it always felt like Brazil were one Danilo misstep away from gifting their opponents a way back into things as pressure built. Across 99 minutes, the right-back was responsible for an error that led to the goal, a foul, and general moments of disarray.

He didn’t commit to any tackles, he won just two of his five duels, and his two defensive contributions are cause for serious concern given he had ample time to get involved with protecting Alisson between the sticks but chose to sit further forward.

Maybe he would have been forgiven had he done well in attack, but zero successful dribbles, losing possession 12 times, completing just two out of four long ball attempts and cross attempts shows he was ineffective from back to front.

Football fans are in agreement over which player needs to be axed from Brazil’s starting lineup following their narrow 2-1 World Cup win vs Japan on Monday evening. Despite winning it late on with Gabriel Martinelli squeezing in a 95th minute goal, Carlo Ancelotti will not have been happy with everything he saw in Houston.

For decades, Brazil have carried a certain kind of ‘aura’ into tournaments that made them a feared opposition, despite being a shell of their glorified past. Now, it feels like their rivals are finally taking advantage of the reality of which the South American giants aren’t as good as their five stars would suggest, even if they got away with it this time.

And one player, more than any, showed that some deadwood still lingers in squad selections, despite calls from fans for years for him to replaced. It is unlikely he gets to start again in the Round of 16.

Brazil Ace is Being Begged to Retire Despite Round of 16 Qualification

Annegret Hilse via Reuters

Reacting to Danilo’s performance, which saw him produce the lowest Sofascore rating of everyone at the Houston Stadium, one X user wrote: “How Daniel is still playing professional football is unreal to me,” as a second added about the Flamengo defender (see the full post below):

A third remarked: “The age is really showing in this Brazil team. You’re not gonna get away with playing Danilo in 2026, be for real,” as a fourth continued: “Danilo minutes is malpractice.” Elsewhere, a fifth concluded: “Danilo mistake. It was embarrassing to call him up in 2022 why is he still around in 2026??”

Danilo’s Performance in Numbers

Troy Taormina / IMAGN Images via Reuters

Winners always find a way, but while the attackers put on a resilient showing in the second-half, it always felt like Brazil were one Danilo misstep away from gifting their opponents a way back into things as pressure built. Across 99 minutes, the right-back was responsible for an error that led to the goal, a foul, and general moments of disarray.

He didn’t commit to any tackles, he won just two of his five duels, and his two defensive contributions are cause for serious concern given he had ample time to get involved with protecting Alisson between the sticks but chose to sit further forward.

Maybe he would have been forgiven had he done well in attack, but zero successful dribbles, losing possession 12 times, completing just two out of four long ball attempts and cross attempts shows he was ineffective from back to front.

Brazil broke Japan hearts with a last-gasp 2-1 win that took Carlo Ancelotti’s side through to the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

Japan stunned Houston Stadium when they took the lead through Kaishu Sano in the 29th minute. The Mainz midfielder pounced on a poor pass from Danilo, easily surged past Casemiro and slotted the ball past Alisson Becker.

Brazil showed vast improvement in the second half, and Bruno Guimaraes went close in the 51st minute. The Newcastle United skipper’s header produced a superb save from Zion Suzuki.

Somehow, the ball stayed out just moments later when Takehiro Tomiyasu blocked Casemiro’s diving header on the spot. Selecao were knocking on the door and finally breaking down a resilient Japan defence.

Nobody would have complained if Casemiro had been brought off at half-time, but Ancelotti’s trust in the former Manchester United midfielder paid off. He headed home a delightful cross from Gabriel Magalhaes to level proceedings in the 55th minute.

Vinicius Junior then came agonisingly close to giving the South Americans the lead. Suzuki turned the Real Madrid forward’s fine effort onto the post.

The game looked to be headed to extra-time until Guimaraes came up with a moment of brilliance to pick Gabriel Martinelli out. The Arsenal attacker managed to find a way past Suzuki in the 90+6th minute.

Match Highlights

Brazil Player Ratings

Phil Noble via Action Images via Reuters

A sloppy first-half from Brazil reminded fans they are no longer the footballing powerhouse of yesteryear. Vinicius Junior rarely threatened in the first half but did click into gear in the second, while Matheus Cunha didn’t get on the scoresheet but led the line effectively.

Talk about a tale of two halves for Casemiro, who endured a dismal first half, unable to keep up with a lively Japanese side who often left him chasing shadows. He came to the fore in the second half, producing a header that Manchester United fans are all too familiar with.

Danilo’s selection as a starter continues to raise eyebrows, and he struggled in Houston. That wasn’t the case for Marquinhos and Gabriel, particularly the Arsenal centre-back, who produced an inch-perfect cross for the equaliser and showcased his impressive passing.

Brazil left it late but sealed their place in the Round of 16 after Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner. That came after a clever pass from Guimaraes, who showed just why Arsenal are trying to sign him.

Japan Player Ratings

Annegret Hilse via Action Images via Reuters

Japan were always a threat on the counter-attack, and their midfield contributed excellently in transition. Particularly Sano, who Casemiro couldn’t contain due to his energy and agility on the break.

Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada rarely put a foot wrong and continues to be a standout performer in Hajime Moriyasu’s side. Up top, Genk attacker Junya Ito constantly looked to take his man on and perhaps deserved to stay on the pitch longer.

Moriyasu deserves huge praise for the way he set his team up as they defended as a team and aggressively dropped into a back-five after taking the lead. Shogo Taniguchi showed his experience at the age of 34, keeping Selecao’s attacking stars at bay.

Between the sticks, Suzuki put in a fantastic display, which included a magnificent save to deny Vinicius. He couldn’t do anything about Casemiro’s header that came at point-blank range.