- Japan faced five-time champions Brazil in the round of 32 at the World Cup on Monday.
- Zion Suzuki lined up in goal for Japan, and was tasked with keeping Carlo Ancelotti’s men at bay.
- Suzuki, 23, was born in Newark, New Jersey, to a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother, and was named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
- He made his debut for Japan in 2022 and currently plays his club football in Serie A for Parma.
- Suzuki had a strong first half in Houston, as Japan took a 1-0 lead into the interval thanks to a goal from Kaishu Sano just before the half hour mark, and he then made two brilliant saves to deny Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Jr either side of Casemiro equalising for Brazil, before Gabriel Martinelli scored a late winner.
