Gabriel Jesus has come close to winning the UEFA Champions League, but he never has. His pursuit of Europe’s top prize is no secret.
“Winning the Champions League has been on my mind since I found out about the possibility of coming to Barça. It’s a dream,” he said during his presentation.
As part of Manchester City, he lost the 2021 final to Chelsea. He came on in the 60th minute but could not help his team score as they lost 1-0.
He was an unused substitute as Arsenal lost the final 4-3 on penalties
after a 1-1 draw this year.
Barcelona have won the Champions League five times in their history, though none in 11 years, and only once without Lionel Messi. It’s safe to say both the striker and his club have a score to settle.
Jesus has been written off by some after a series of injuries, though he says he is back to being fully fit and ready to prove himself. At the moment, he is the team’s backup striker. Raphinha, his compatriot, has been given the starter role, moving from the wing into a central position.
Jesus’s stats in the Champions League are impressive. He has 26 goals and 8 assists in 57 appearances across eight seasons, five with City and three with Arsenal. His best individual mark in a single season came in 2019-20, with City, when he played eight matches, scored six, and assisted three.
