2026 World Cup, Brazil vs. Japan: The Unlikely Hero Leaves Everyone Speechless

Just when everyone was expecting a surge from the Brazilian champions, a Japanese underdog shook things up: Kaishu Sano scored the goal that gave Japan the lead against Brazil in the Round of 16 match at the 2026 World Cup, played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. He did so with a thunderous strike from outside the box—a diagonal shot that left Alisson with no chance and silenced thousands of Brazilian fans in the stands.

Born in 2000 and having spent the last two seasons with Mainz in Germany, Sano was certainly not the most anticipated player in the match against Brazil: up until now, he had made just 15 appearances for the national team (two of which were in this World Cup, against the Netherlands and Tunisia) and had never scored. In the match against Sweden, head coach Hajime Moriyasu had left him on the bench to give him a breather ahead of the next round.

Sano’s professional career began in J-League 2 (Japan’s second division) in 2019, with Machida Zelvia, where the midfielder played for four years. In 2023, he moved to one of the J-League’s most popular clubs, the Kashima Antlers, where he stood out more for his playmaking in midfield than for his goal-scoring ability (just one goal in 58 total appearances).

In the summer of 2024, he moved to Mainz: a regular starter throughout his two Bundesliga seasons (68 appearances in as many matches), Sano also played in the 2025–2026 Conference League, reaching the quarterfinals. Moriyasu included him without much hesitation in the 26-man World Cup roster; his goal against Brazil could help cement his status as a key player.