Man. City

Ronaldinho thinks Gabriel Jesus can be the next Lionel Messi

Published Feb. 13, 2017 4:07 p.m. ET

Caitlin Murray

The debate around the best player ever has usually revolved around the likes of Pele, Maradona and Lionel Messi. But Ronaldinho is offering up another player for consideration: 19-year-old Gabriel Jesus.

"Manchester City have a very special player with Gabriel Jesus," Ronaldinho said via Sky Sports. "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.”

He may end up being right. Jesus has quickly impressed and become one of the most exciting young players to watch in the Premier League, defying all realistic expectations.

In just three Premier League matches so far — and not much time to adjust to a new league and country — he has three goals and is already playing like a star.

"You look at Gabriel Jesus and he has no fear at all,” Ronaldinho added. "He just wants to play and show what he can do."

It does seem like Ronaldinho can’t decide who to give his “best player” designation to. He recently said Neymar will be the best player in the world. Now he is saying it’ll be Jesus. But he may end up being right twice since there’s six years between Neymar and Jesus.

Only time well tell, and it’s early days for Jesus, but he is already showing he has what it takes.

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