Gabriel Jesus’s story is a remarkable tale of triumph, rising from the favelas of São Paulo to become a star in international football. Often called ‘Little Neymar,’ his journey is marked by challenges that he overcame with relentless determination and a steadfast commitment to his dreams.
Born in São Paulo, Jesus spent his early years in Jardim Peri, a neighbourhood marked by poverty. His mother, Vera, raised him and his two brothers as a single parent. Jesus began his football journey playing on the streets before he found football fame.
This article uncovers the lesser-known aspects of Gabriel Jesus’s life. It delves into his journey before he rose to fame, spotlighting his family’s influence, early hardships, and the unwavering determination that propelled him to success. Discover the story of a footballer whose experiences inspire far beyond the world of sports.
Tough Childhood to Football Triumph: This is Gabriel Jesus’ Story
Gabriel Jesus Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
To kick off his biography, Gabriel Fernando de Jesus was born on April 3rd, year 1997, in São Paulo, Brazil. He, who is not related to Igor Jesus (footballer, born 2001), is the youngest of four children, with three brothers and a sister. His parents are Vera Lúcia Jesus and Diniz de Jesus.
This is Gabriel Jesus as a baby and in the loving hands of his Mother.
Indeed, there is a saying that being the last child and baby in the house comes with lots of advantages. For Gabriel, the cause was quite different. His mum instilled discipline and still allowed him to hustle himself in the streets.
He grew up in the neighbourhood of Jardim Peri, located in the northern sprawl of Sao Paulo. Like so many footballers who had exotic upbringings, Gabriel Jesus was raised by the streets.
He made street football his calling. As a little child, age 5, playing Brazilian Samba across streets, Gabriel was used to playing Central Midfield rather than attacking.
Similar to Ismaila Sarr and Gabi Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus was known for his incredible speed as a child. After the 2002 World Cup, he transitioned into a full-fledged attacking role.
This turning point came after discovering and adjusting to his World Cup idol, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima.
This turning point also came with him becoming more serious about football. It denotes joining a football academy, as portrayed below.
This is Gabriel Jesus, in his early career years.
Gabriel Jesus Biography – Rising to Fame Story:
Gabriel Jesus first caught the eye of major teams after playing for several youth clubs, including the intriguingly named “Little Kids of the Environment.” His standout performance came when he scored 29 goals for Anhanguera Associação Paulista in a local under-15 tournament. Here’s a look at his ID card from the club.
Gabriel Jesus ID for his youth club. From Little Kids of the Environment to Goal-Scoring Sensation for Anhanguera Associacao Paulista.
More progress led him to the opportunity to move to the prestigious Palmeiras football club to play for their youth team.
Even at 15, Gabriel had an agent who organised a trial at Palmeiras, one of Brazil’s most traditional teams.
Just a year later, the fans were already clamouring for him to step up to the senior side. This is because he was so good at his tender age.
During a challenging period for Palmeiras, who were flirting with relegation from Brazil’s top flight, Gabriel Jesus stepped up and single-handedly transformed their fortunes. His exceptional performances not only lifted the team away from the relegation zone but also led them to clinch the league title.
On the emotional final day of the season, Gabriel shone like never before. His performance at the tender age of 18 got him watched by scouts around the world. Despite all the buzz around him, Gabriel never got distracted.
He still kept scoring goals and never looked back. He swiftly established himself as one of Palmeiras’ most important players in history and the next Brazilian to get a big-money move to Europe.
This finally happened, thanks to Manchester City. The rest, as they often say, is history.
Gabriel Jesus Family Life:
This section of his Biography tells you about members of Jesus’ household. Without further ado, let’s begin.
About Gabriel Jesus’ Father:
Gabriel Jesus’s father, Diniz, left when Gabriel was very young. Reports from Bijog revealed that Diniz abandoned Gabriel, his siblings, and their mother to be with another woman. This situation is reminiscent of Alexis Sánchez’s own family struggles.
About Gabriel Jesus’ Mother:
Gabriel Jesus’s mother, Vera Lucia, plays a crucial role in his life, much like Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s relationship with his mother. Vera calls him before every match to offer support and encouragement.
When Gabriel moved to England, he was accompanied by his mother, older brother, and two friends. He even joked that he would have brought his entire neighborhood if his mother had allowed it. Their close bond and mutual respect are evident in every aspect of his life.
Gabriel Jesus and Mother, Vera Lucia.
She is also a disciplinarian who would sometimes pull Gabriel Jesus’ ears for missing chances at important matches. However, respect and discipline aren’t an issue for Jesus.
This is because he is properly trained. Vera Lucia ended up raising her four siblings on her own while working as a domestic maid in the impoverished Jardim Peri district in Sao Paulo.
Gabriel Jesus happens to be the youngest of all.
From the resemblance, you can see they are members of the Gabriel Jesus Family.
Love Life:
Many have wondered, “Who is Gabriel Jesus’ girlfriend?” The answer is straightforward.
Gabriel Jesus, unlike some of his peers, isn’t currently dating. Years ago, his mother played a significant role in managing his relationships and has guided him to remain focused on his career. As of now, he is single, with his mother being a central figure in his life, helping him stay dedicated to his professional growth.
Gabriel Jesus’s mother facts.
She is firmly in charge of his off-field affairs.
Gabriel – who she calls by her nickname ‘Baby’ – is banned from going out on the town, drinking alcohol or smoking, while would-be WAGS / Girlfriends of the new soccer sensation have also been warned to stay off her son.
Vera recently said in an interview with DailyMail:
“I have certain expectations for how my relationships should be conducted. For instance, I prefer to keep things private, avoiding heavy public displays of affection and photos. Overnight stays should be occasional and not a regular occurrence. I also have firm views on respect; I won’t tolerate my son disrespecting others, and I expect him to uphold these values. It’s crucial to me that my children, whom I’ve raised on my own with God’s help, show respect and responsibility in their relationships.”
She also revealed that the striker must lower his head when she speaks to him. Also, according to her, .. ‘I may be good-natured, but I demand to be respected. Gabriel has never disrespected me.’ she said.
Meet Gabriel Jesus’ brother and mother.
Salary Control:
Unlike most footballers, Gabriel Jesus allows his mum to control his finances. In fact, he still gets pocket money from his mum, who insists on controlling his £90,000 salary per week.
According to Gabriel, ‘My mother is my warrior… she is the boss.’
Since his move to the city, Vera Lucia Diniz de Jesus has made sure she received her son’s salary so she can pass on only as much as he needs – ‘to keep his feet on the ground’.
She also controls the food he eats to where he goes out. Rather than feeling trapped as many would do, Jesus still appreciates his mother’s influence over his life. According to his mum, ‘Gabriel will always be my baby’.
His mother lives under his roof and makes him follow her rules! The player once described her as ‘harder to dribble than any defender I’ve ever faced’.
Also, in a touching Instagram post, he referred to her as a ‘woman warrior who always took care of my brothers and me’.
We have many young stars whose mums exert much control but don’t cross the salary line. This is the case of Adrien Rabiot and Ousmane Dembele.
Gabriel Jesus Biography Facts – Love for Jesus Christ:
First, his name is quite notable in the field, just like that of Danny Drinkwater. Gabriel Jesus comes from a religious family and reportedly has worn the number 33 shirt for Man City in tribute to the age that Jesus was believed to have been crucified.
Gabriel Jesus shirt number (33) facts.
Gabriel has pledged he will be wearing the Number 33 shirt and sees it as better than any shirt number.
Gabriel and Neymar Jr have showcased their love for Jesus Christ in the most adorable and passionate way. Both were Olympic champions with the Brazilian Team in Rio de Janeiro 2016.
Gabriel Jesus and Neymar Love for Christ.
Their faith has also made them best friends.
Gabriel Jesus Biography – The Journey to City:
At just 19 years old, Gabriel Jesus received an unexpected call from one of football’s legendary coaches. Amidst intense interest from both Manchester City and Barcelona, the young Brazilian forward was surprised when an unknown number appeared on his phone.
On the other end was Pep Guardiola, who directly advised Gabriel that moving to Manchester City would be the best choice for his career. Starstruck by the encounter, Gabriel was quickly won over by Guardiola’s pitch, making City his top choice.
Barcelona, led by Neymar, tried to sway him back with their charm offensive, but it was too late. Gabriel Jesus signed with Manchester City for £28 million. Just a few months later, he was making headlines as a key player for Brazil’s senior team. And thus, the rest is history.
Style of Play and Strength:
Gabriel Jesus is a versatile forward capable of playing all across the frontline. The sharp striker has more often played through the middle, where his movement and footwork help create space for teammates and bring others into play.
Gabriel is also a superb athlete, capable of outpacing most defenders and getting stronger all the time. He is explosive without being sticky, which allows him to glide into space with ease when he stretches his legs.
He also has good positional awareness and a knack for drifting into space, which makes him hard for defenders to pick up. His finishing is as ruthless as that of fellow teammate Sergio Aguero.
Gabriel Jesus Weakness:
For many coaches, especially Pep, the main worry for Gabriel is his maturity. He can occasionally appear a little too invested in matters on the field, sometimes coming close to tears when things aren’t going his way (which isn’t too often, granted). This he did at his old club.
It’s good to care, of course, but playing in an unfamiliar league in a foreign country requires a player to develop a thick skin, which Gabriel still has yet to have.
The plus for City is that, while raw, he is maturing at a staggering rate, taking on greater responsibility every week. With Guardiola’s guidance and other Brazilian friends at the League to help him settle, there’s no reason for major concern.
Gabriel Jesus Biography – His Idol:
His Idol is Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima. Thou he wasn’t born when the Legend witnessed his prime. Gabriel became acquainted with Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima at the age of 5 when he watched and celebrated him at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
From that day forward, he never stopped dreaming about following in his footsteps. As pinpointed below, he changed his wing from central midfield to an attacking role because of the Brazilian Legend.
Jesus suddenly became the next thing when Brazil’s Ronaldo came out on record and said that he saw many similarities between him and the then Palmeiras striker. In a TV interview, Ronaldo said:
According to Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima,
“I look at Gabriel and see myself in the past. I see similarities… him being so young but already having achieved so much and having so much responsibility.
He’s got a fantastic future ahead of him, and he’s already enchanting us with what he’s doing”.
Gabriel Jesus Biography – The Pig Masks:
The football star once gathered more than 40,000 Pig Mask fans at the Allianz Parque during his time in Sao Paulo.
Just like Aubameyang, Gabriel had developed a mask-wearing culture. Unfortunately, he stopped wearing it at his last game for his old club, Palmeiras.
The pig is the mascot of Palmeiras after the club turned their rivals’ jibes on their head in the 1990s by adopting the taunts as its official character.
Gabriel Jesus Bio – A Basketball Fan:
He is a huge supporter of the American professional basketball team, the Golden State Warriors. He wears the team’s jersey to gym workouts. Stephen Curry is the reason he supports them.
Not many know Jesus is a Golden State Warriors fan.
The Rage:
Gabriel Jesus’ first red card of his career didn’t go well. He was sent off for hitting a steward during a match against Rosario Central.
It took the help of Stadium security to get him off the pitch. This was the first time hell was let loose for the striker.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read our biography of Gabriel Jesus, the Arsenal Forward. Our goal is to provide accurate and unbiased coverage of Brazilian football stories.
We also recommend checking out the life stories of Vitor Roque and Endrick Felipe, which we believe will be enjoyable to read.
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