Gabriel Jesus did not hesitate when EFE asked him to compare his new team-mate to the man he once shared a national-team dressing room with.
“Neymar is the most virtuoso footballer I’ve ever played with. He could do everything with both feet,” the Brazilian told the Spanish news agency in an interview published on Wednesday.
“But it’s true that Lamine has things from him, like the dribbling and the personality.”
The comparison follows Lamine Yamal everywhere he goes. Coming from a current Barcelona team-mate who also played with Neymar for Brazil, it carries a different kind of weight. Jesus doubled down, calling the 19-year-old “a genius who gets better every year” and insisting the forward plays with a maturity that belongs to a far older player.
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“He does things like a mature player, as if he were 30 years old,” Jesus added.
Ballon d’Or vote already closed
Pressed on the Ballon d’Or, which will be presented at the London Palladium on 26 October, Jesus named his pick on the record.
“Lamine is the player I’ve enjoyed watching the most for years, and this year he’s won almost everything. For me, he’s the favorite.”
The vote closed on 28 September, and Yamal has since overtaken Harry Kane as the bookmakers’ favourite, after a season in which he logged 24 goals and 17 assists for Barcelona and played the full 120 minutes as Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final.
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Guardiola’s shadow and Flick’s intensity
Jesus spent five and a half seasons under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before an ACL injury in January 2025 cost him his place at Arsenal. His move to Barcelona was completed on 1 September for a reported fee of around €10 million, with a contract running to 2029.
Working under Hansi Flick, he told EFE, has brought a different rhythm from the one Guardiola set at the Etihad.
“Sometimes I come home very tired, but it’s necessary to implement our style.”
The 29-year-old also addressed the shirt number he has inherited, the number 9 Ronaldo wore in Catalonia in the mid-1990s.
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“Ronaldo is the most incredible player I’ve ever seen.”
“I want to win everything with Barça”
Jesus did not downplay his ambitions in Catalonia.
“With Barça I want to win everything. Not just the Champions League, but La Liga too.”
“I’m a guy who really believes in God’s plans.”
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The Ballon d’Or ceremony is on 26 October at the London Palladium, with Yamal the bookmakers’ favourite ahead of Kane.
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