Gabriel Jesus: A Tale of Grit, Goals, and Glory

Gabriel Jesus Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Gabriel Jesus’s story is a beacon of hope, illustrating a meteoric rise from the favelas of São Paulo to the pinnacle of international football. Dubbed ‘Little Neymar,’ Jesus’s journey is fraught with challenges that he navigated with an unwavering spirit and a relentless pursuit of his dreams.

This biography explores the essence of Gabriel Jesus’s life before fame, highlighting his family’s role, his early struggles, and the sheer perseverance that has led him to become a symbol of hope and success. Dive into the life of a footballer whose story inspires beyond the realms of sport.

Gabriel Jesus Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

This is Gabriel Jesus as a baby and in the loving hands of his Mother.
This is Gabriel Jesus as a baby and in the loving hands of his Mother.

For Biography starters, Gabriel Fernando de Jesus was born on the 3rd day of April 1997 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Vera Lúcia Jesus (Mother) and Diniz de Jesus (Father). Jesus arrived into the world as the last-born child in a family of 4 children (3 boys and a girl).

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.

Just like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he was known to be a speed demon during his childhood. He later converted to full-fledged attacking after the 2002 World Cup.

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.
This is Gabriel Jesus, in his early career years.

Gabriel Jesus Biography – Rising to Fame Story:

After appearing for a number of youth teams (some with cool names like Little Kids of the Environment).

He came to the attention of some of the region’s bigger sides when he plundered 29 goals for amateur club Anhanguera Associacao Paulista in a local under-15 tournament. Below is his ID card for the club.

Gabriel Jesus ID for his youth club. From Little Kids of the Environment to Goal-Scoring Sensation for Anhanguera Associacao Paulista.
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, there was already clamour by the fans for him to step up to the senior side. This is because he was so good at his tender age.

At that time, the Palmeiras senior side was flirting with relegation from Brazil’s top flight. Gabriel Jesus single-handedly led them straight up the log to the extent of winning the league title for the club.

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 him when he was very tender. Bijog reports claimed that he ran away with his lover, abandoning little Gabriel, his brothers, sister and mother. This is also the case with Alexis Sanchez.

About Gabriel Jesus’ Mother:

Jesus’ mother, Vera Lucia, is a prominent figure in his life, just like that of footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan. She phones him before every game.

When Gabriel Jesus arrived in England, he came with his mother and older brother along with two friends, although he said that he would have brought his whole neighbourhood if only his mum permitted him. Both are very close, and he respects her a lot.

Gabriel Jesus and Mother, Vera Lucia.
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 could know they are members of Gabriel Jesus Family.
From the resemblance, you could know they are members of Gabriel Jesus Family.

Gabriel Jesus Relationship Life:

Perhaps many have asked. Who is Gabriel Jesus’ Girlfriend? The answer to the question is simple.

Gabriel Jesus, unlike Anthony Martial, isn’t into dating, thanks to his mum. His mother is in control of the girls he chooses to follow and also the status of his relationship life, which is ‘single’ as at the time of writing his Bio.

By implication, he is single – at the time of writing this Bio. His mother feels he shouldn’t be distracted and just focus on his young career. She is everything to him, including his girlfriend.

Gabriel Jesus's mother facts.
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: ‘Girlfriends have to live by my rules, and there’ll be no heavy kissing and public photos.

Staying over can happen only once in a while. I will never accept that my son disrespects the daughters of others.

No son of mine is going to get someone else’s daughter pregnant. I demand respect because I raised all three of them on my own, with the help of God.’ 

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.
Meet Gabriel Jesus’ brother and mother.

Gabriel Jesus Biography – 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 per week salary.

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 also 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 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 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.
Gabriel Jesus and Neymar Love for Christ.

Their faith has also made them best friends.

Gabriel Jesus Biography – The Journey to City:

It’s not every day that a 19-year-old footballer gets a phone call from one of the game’s great coaches, but that’s just what happened to Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian starlet, who was at the centre of a transfer scramble between Manchester City and Barcelona, was minding his own business when an unknown number flashed up on his screen.

At the other end of the line was none other than Pep Guardiola, who told the teenager in no uncertain terms that his career would best be served by a move to the Etihad.

The former Palmeiras striker, understandably starstruck, was swayed to the extent that City shot to the top of his list of preferred destinations.

Barcelona mounted a Neymar-led charm offensive in response, but it was too little, too late: Gabriel joined City for £28m.

Cut to just a few months later, and he is starring for Brazil’s senior side. The rest, they say, is history.

Gabriel Jesus Facts – 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 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 States Warriors fan.
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 LifeBogger’s biography of Gabriel Jesus. 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.

If you notice any inaccuracies or inconsistencies in our Gabriel Jesus biography, please do not hesitate to let us know. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Hi there! I am Hale Hendrix, a passionate football enthusiast and writer dedicated to uncovering the untold stories of footballers' childhood and biography. With a deep love for the beautiful game, I have spent countless hours researching and interviewing players to bring to light the lesser-known details of their lives.

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