Rio Ferdinand blames Gabriel for Japan's goal vs Brazil in 2026 World Cup
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has criticized Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes for his role in Japan’s goal during the 2026 World Cup round‑of‑32 match against Brazil held in Houston. In the 29th minute, Japanese midfielder Kaishu Sano intercepted a loose pass from Brazil’s Danilo, advanced into the penalty area and fired a low right‑footed shot past goalkeeper Alisson Becker to give Japan the lead. Ferdinand said on X that Gabriel should have engaged the attacker sooner. Although Ferdinand singled out Gabriel, he noted that Casemiro was actually the nearest Brazilian player to Sano but appeared lethargic in his recovery, only catching up after the goal had been scored. Brazil later equalised through a Casemiro header from a cross delivered by Gabriel Magalhaes and secured victory with a last‑minute goal from another Arsenal player, Gabriel Martinelli. The incident highlights how a single defensive lapse can shift momentum in a high‑stakes knockout game, even when the team ultimately wins. For Nigerian fans who follow the Premier League, it raises questions about the consistency of Arsenal’s backline and whether individual errors are being adequately addressed in training.