Brazilian and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho once suggested that an Arsenal player had the potential to surpass Lionel Messi and become the world’s best player.
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Ronaldinho himself was crowned the best player globally in the mid-2000s after a stellar run at Barcelona.
Joining Barça from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, he won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and achieved notable success with the club, securing two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy before moving to AC Milan in 2008. ..Continue Reading
He later played for Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, Querétaro, and Fluminense before retiring in 2015.
While at Barcelona, Ronaldinho saw the rise of a young Messi, who developed through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
Messi has since established himself as one of the greatest players in football history, winning the Ballon d’Or eight times in over a decade of dominance alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, Ronaldinho once believed that another player could eventually surpass Messi’s achievements. This player, now at Arsenal, caught his attention for his potential.
Gabriel Jesus joined Manchester City from Palmeiras in 2017, where he won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and three League Cups. In 2022, Jesus transferred to Arsenal for a reported £45 million and has scored 20 goals in 83 appearances for the Gunners.
Shortly after Jesus joined City in 2017, Ronaldinho expressed his belief that his fellow Brazilian had the talent to become the world’s best.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, via Sky Sports, he said: “Manchester City have a very special player with Gabriel Jesus. Maybe even, in the future, the best player in the world.
“At the moment, it is Messi. I have always said I think one day it will be Neymar. But at 19, in the future, it can be Gabriel. He has all the abilities to make that happen.”
Jesus has been unable to hit the heights Messi has, but has still had a successful and creditable career so far.
