From painting the streets to winning the Premier League - Gabriel Jesus's journey to the top

Andre Borges/Agência Brasília / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

It has long been advocated that Brazil is the homeland of soccer. Every day, thousands of Brazilian kids are out on the streets kicking the ball around, hoping that their dream will become a reality one day. A dream of stepping onto the pitch as a professional soccer player.

In 2014, Gabriel Fernando de Jesus was one of those kids. At the time, Brazil was making the final touches in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup - and so was Jesus. Covered in yellow and blue paint, which represents the colors of his beloved Seleção, Gabriel Jesus was painting the streets of Sao Paulo in the hope of pulling on a famous shirt one day.

And the hope was very much alive for Gabriel Jesus. His first steps in soccer were with the amateur team Associação Atlética Anhanguera, aged 13.

By Wesley1vieira - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38088200

Jesus was so determined to make it as a professional soccer player that he used to walk to training on foot. The neat technique and close ball control he acquired from the days playing on clay-dirt pitches caught coaches’ eyes straight away. In 2013, the 16-year old wonder boy at the time was scouted by one of the all-time giants of Brazilian soccer – Palmeiras.

Jesus took his chance with both hands scoring an impressive 37 goals in 22 matches in the youth championship. The following season, he was promoted to Palmeiras's first team and made his senior debut in a game against CA Bragantino.

He finished the 2015 edition of Campeonato Brasileiro with four goals making a name for himself on the big stage. Nonetheless, it was the following season when Jesus really hit the ground running, leading Palmeiras to their first national title since 1994.

The Brazilian was named the best player of the 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro season, immediately attracting attention from Europe's top clubs. Pep Guardiola was a big admirer of Gabriel Jesus and his skillset.

Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil / CC BY 3.0 BR (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/br/deed.en)

Manchester City went on to secure the signing of the Brazilian forward in January 2017. He immediately earned his place in the starting line-up, sending City’s all-time great Sergio Aguero to the bench. It was Jesus’ never-ending energy, determination, and work ethic that made him Guardiola’s first-choice striker.

His goal against Southampton in the dying seconds of the 2017/18 Premier League season brought City the historic achievement of one hundred points – the first ever in the English top-flight.

During his three and a half seasons in Manchester, Jesus has already won two Premier League titles, three League Cups, and the FA Cup.

City fans will be hoping for his speedy recovery this season as their hopes of challenging Liverpool for the Premier League title this season will heavily rely on their Brazilian number 9.

By Agência Brasil Fotografias - Brasil estreia contra a África do Sul no Mané Garrincha, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50525784

Also, his dream of wearing a famous Seleção shirt came true in 2016 in a qualifying match against Ecuador. Since then, he has made 38 appearances for his national side, scoring 18 goals. Jesus was part of Brazil’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he started all five matches.

Despite his success, Jesus has never forgotten his origins.

Every time he has a chance, he goes back to the place where it all began – Peri.

He is still the same kid whose dream has come true and will be an inspiration for generations to come.