PAINT IT RED: Gabriel Jesus’s incredible journey from street art in Sao Paulo to being referred to by Guardiola as ‘the best in the world’ and currently being the best striker at Arsenal

Gabriel Jesus had aspirations ten years ago of combining his creative training with professional soccer.

Gabriel Jesus | Players | Men | Arsenal.com

The 27-year-old new guy for Arsenal was captured on camera while still a teenager, painting on the streets of his Sao Paulo neighborhood as Brazil got ready to host the 2014 World Cup. At the age of seventeen, Jesus was painting on the streets of São Paulo while on the Palmeiras youth team. He was holding a paintbrush. This is a part of a local movement to celebrate the nation’s hosting of the World Cup in 2014. Jesus, therefore, was quite happy with his Jardim Peri neighborhood and added his own touches to brighten up a place that was notorious for its subpar housing.

When Jesus was 17 he was snapped painting the streets of Sao PauloAs part of a World Cup initiative, local teens decorated their hometowns with fancy paintwork

Jesus honors his hometown by getting a tattoo of a little boy gazing back at his former ghetto while holding a soccer ball under his arm. From the age of eight to fourteen, he was inspired to dedicate himself to his career by the football team Pequeninos do Meio Ambiente in the nearby city of Tremembe.

He can’t afford to take the bus, so every Saturday he walks for an hour and a half to practice in his flip-flops and old soccer shoes. Maybe it was that eight-mile journey that shaped him into the devoted and industrious player he is today.

Jesus caught the football bug at Pequeninos do Meio AmbienteIdentity cards of Jesus, when he started his career at the Clube Pequeninos do Meio Ambiente, in the neighborhood of Tremembe

After completing the exam with flying colors, his former principal at Guilherme de Almeida State University suggested he might pursue a career in biology. However, he went with football.

In 22 games, he scored 37 goals to lead Palmeiras to the 2014 u17 state championship. Academy life would have to wait because by then, elite European teams had already noticed his talent. After being promoted to the Palmeiras main team in 2015, Jesus made frequent appearances off the bench during his 37 appearances across all competitions, tallying 7 goals. It’s going to be much greater next year. He made 46 appearances while scoring 21 goals. More significantly, he will assist Palmeiras in capturing their first title in twenty-two years.

Despite excelling at school, Jesus dreamed of football stardom

In 2016, Jesus helped Palmeiras land their first title in 22 years

After securing a sensational transfer to Manchester City in Europe at the close of 2016, the striker made his debut for his nation, scoring twice. At nineteen years old, all of this took place. Pep Guardiola referred to Jesus as “the best in the world” after witnessing his incredible ascent and his following exploits for Man City.

At 19, Jesus had earned himself a blockbuster move to Man City

Following a prosperous tenure with Manchester City, Jesus relocated to Arsenal FC in July 2022. He kept up his striker abilities at Arsenal, adjusting to the new system and bolstering the team’s оffensive potency.

During his City career Jesus lifted the Premier League trophy four times

Among Gabriel Jesus’ most noteworthy accomplishments at the club are:

Four titles in the Premier League (20/21, 18/19, 17/18, 21/22)

One-time English FA Cup Winner (2019)

Four-time winner of the English League Cup (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

The English Suρer Cup champion twice (in 2019 and 2020)

One-time Brazilian victor (2016)

2015 was the only Brazilian Cup champion.