Gabriel Martinelli's journey from futsal to Brazil super-sub

Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score the winning goal for Brazil in their Round of 32 clash against Japan at the FIFA World Cup 2026, securing a 2-1 victory and a place in the next round against Norway. The Arsenal forward, who has made a habit of making an impact as a substitute for both club and country, replaced Matheus Cunha 20 minutes into the second half with the score tied at 1-1.

A trusted option from the bench

Martinelli has started 25 of his 53 appearances for Arsenal during the 2025/26 season, a campaign in which the Gunners won the Premier League title and reached the UEFA Champions League final. For Brazil, he has already featured in three World Cup matches under coach Carlo Ancelotti, who praised his impact against Japan.

"He plays with great intensity. He really helped the team by scoring, and with him on the pitch, [Vinicius Jr] had much more space and became a constant threat," Ancelotti said after the match.

Despite his current role as a super-sub, Martinelli has not always been content with a place on the bench. His competitive nature was evident from a young age, as recalled by Daniel Magalhaes, his youth futsal coach at Corinthians.

Early days in futsal

Martinelli began his football journey with Corinthians' youth futsal team at the age of six, staying until he was 13 or 14. Magalhaes remembers a particular incident when a young Martinelli was furious after being substituted in a match against Juventus da Mooca.

"We were winning about 4-1 and I took him off towards the end of the game. He was furious. I remember telling him, 'You've done your job, let's give the other lads a chance.' He just wouldn't accept it. I had to sit down and talk with him during the week. He hated coming off," laughed Magalhaes.

Magalhaes noted that Martinelli was exceptionally fast for futsal, which made him stand out, and he was the top scorer in every age group while winning numerous titles with Corinthians.

Move to Ituano and rise to prominence

At age 14, Martinelli's family moved from the metropolitan area of São Paulo to Itu, where he joined Ituano's academy. Thiago Badari, his U-15 coach at Ituano, recalled the forward's exceptional talent and determination.

"He was always exceptional, miles ahead of the others. In that U-15s season he scored 15 goals in 16 games. He had an outstanding instinct inside the penalty area. So, even though he was slight, he usually played as a No9. He could score with either foot, along the ground, in the air, with his head. He already showed plenty of facets in his game," Badari said.

Martinelli's performances quickly attracted attention from overseas. Interestingly, the first English club to monitor him closely was not Arsenal but Manchester United, who even invited him to training camps in England. "From an early age, you always had the feeling he was preparing himself for something special in football," Badari added.

In 2018, still only 16, Martinelli made his senior debut for Ituano. A year later, he was named Best Newcomer at the São Paulo State Championship and recognized as the standout player outside the state's traditional powerhouses.

Arsenal move and development

Martinelli had been on Arsenal's radar for several years. Edu Gaspar, who was preparing to leave his role as Brazil's national team coordinator to become Arsenal's technical director after the 2019 Copa America, made signing Martinelli one of his first moves after arriving in north London. Initially, the plan was for Martinelli to join the U-23s, but then-manager Unai Emery quickly brought him into the first-team squad for pre-season.

Now, Martinelli is a key member of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad and one of Ancelotti's most trusted options for Brazil, proving that his journey from futsal to super-sub has been built on a foundation of talent, determination, and an unwavering will to compete.