Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli scores superb first for goal for Brazil… as Alisson claims his Liverpool team-mate Luis Diaz’s ‘deserves everything’ after his goals inspired Colombia’s turnaround in front of his freed father

Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli opened his international account for Brazil with a superb goal against Colombia, only for the Selecao to suffer their second defeat in World Cup qualifying.

Despite starring for Arsenal in the Premier League, Martinelli remains in the early stages of his national team career with Brazil having only made his debut last year.

The 22-year-old gave his nation the perfect start to their World Cup qualifier against Colombia.

Martinelli began the move on the left wing and linked up with Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr to carve through the Colombian defence.

The pair exchanged four passes, with Vinicius eventually freeing Martinelli on the edge of the box, where the forward expertly steered a shot into the bottom corner.

Martinelli scored on his seventh cap for Brazil as he bids to earn a regular starting role

Liverpool star Diaz scored twice in three minutes to lead his team to victory over Brazil

Martinelli’s effort came on his seventh cap for Brazil, as he looks to become a fixture in the starting line-up for the five-time World Cup winners.

Brazil were dealt a blow when Vincius Jnr was forced off with an injury, before Luis Diaz turned the match around for Colombia to provoke emotional scenes in Barranquilla.

Diaz scored two late goals against his Liverpool teammate, the Brazil goalkeeper Alisson, in the 75th and 78th minute in the World Cup qualifier.

His father Luis Manuel Diaz was watching in the stands just days after being released following a 12-day kidnapping ordeal with his abductors last week.

Diaz and his father had been reunited just two days prior to the match. 

Luis Manuel Díaz appeared so overwhelmed he almost fell to the floor after his son’s second goal, while he was mobbed by the euphoric fans around him in jubilant scenes.

Alisson reflected on the emotional scenes after Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Colombia, stating that Diaz ‘deserves everything’ despite his disappointment at the result.

The Brazil goalkeeper was seen embracing Diaz on the pitch after the full-time whistle.

Luis Diaz’s father was visibly overwhelmed by his son’s heroics for Colombia against Brazil

Brazil have now suffered consecutive defeats in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign

‘No words to talk about him [Diaz], he is a friend, a companion,’ Alission told Globo.

‘I think that at these times you have to put football aside. He deserves everything. 

‘But we leave here very disappointed with this result. We controlled the game in the first half, but that can’t happen. It’s a game to win 1-0 and go home happy.

‘Brazil has to create more, you don’t win with the shirt, you win with the game. We didn’t do enough to win.’

Brazil have now suffered back-to-back defeats in World Cup qualifying to lie fifth in the standings, while Colombia’s victory moves them up to third.

Group leaders Argentina travel face arch-rivals Brazil on November 21, while Colombia face an away match against Paraguay.