The 2020/21 season may have come to an end, but in its dying embers during the final match week, there was still time for one final goal milestone to be reached, as Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus hit the 50-goal mark against Everton.
Brought in as a teenager from Palmeiras, the Brazilian has undoubtedly made a strong contribution to Manchester City during his time in the northwest, even if some questions over his role continue to linger. A highly important player for City in their legendary Centurions season of 2017/18, and also in the two subsequent title victories since then, Gabriel Jesus has had a habit of scoring important goals for his side, and has reached the half century in relatively quick time, just under four and a half seasons.
Here, we look back on some of the Brazilian’s finest moments so far during his time as a Premier League player.
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Premier League Goal Milestones: 5 of the best from Gabriel Jesus
First goal: Vs West Ham (1st February 2017)
After making himself at home in a freezing Manchester during the winter of 2017, it didn’t take Jesus too long to get off the mark for his new club. During an emphatic victory over West Ham at The London Stadium, the then-19-year-old forward opened his account with a simple tap-in in the first half, after winger Raheem Sterling unselfishly squared it for the Brazilian.
It was a combination that we have seen plenty of in the time since, and one that has played a considerable part in Manchester City’s success in those years.
50th goal: Vs Everton (23rd May 2021)
Regardless of his form through the years, Everton has always seemed to be a team whom Gabriel Jesus has no problem scoring against, and so it was no surprise to see his 50th Premier League goal come against the Toffees.
Played through on goal during City’s final match of the season, he could easily have squared the ball to Riyadh Mahrez at the back post, but instead cut back brilliantly before firing a rocket of a shot past Jordan Pickford.
A spectacular moment in a hot and cold, but ultimately successful season for the forward.
Best goal: Vs Burnley (3rd December 2019)
Beyond his abilities as a goal poacher, there have also been a selection of fine strikes from Gabriel Jesus in a City shirt, with arguably none better than his opener against Burnley at Turf Moor during the 2019/20 season.
Receiving the ball on the left-hand side, the Brazilian slowly manoeuvred towards goal before curling a wonderful shot beyond Nick Pope and into the far corner, into probably the only place that would’ve beaten the England goalkeeper.
The goal was the first of two for Jesus that night, who eventually made it his finest goal scoring season in the top flight, with 14 strikes to his name.
Most Important: Vs Crystal Palace (14th April 2019)
He may have only scored 7 league goals in Manchester City’s title winning season of 2018/19, but Jesus’s strike against Crystal Palace was perhaps the most important of his Premier League career.
City were locked in an intense title battle with Liverpool at the time, where any little slip would’ve proven fatal. With the league leaders 2-0 up, Palace pulled a goal back and were threatening to level the scores, before Gabriel Jesus struck on the counter attack with a smart near post finish.
It was a goal that put City beyond the reach of Crystal Palace to seal the win, and turned out to be another crucial moment in the Sky Blues’ march to the title. Probably not the most memorable goal he’s ever scored, but an absolutely crucial one nonetheless.
Most Memorable: Vs Southampton (13th May 2018)
From one that isn’t particularly memorable, to one of the most significant goals in Premier League history.
It was the final day of Manchester City’s brilliant 2017/18 season, where just one goal remained; get the victory over Southampton, and become the first side in English football history to reach 100 points. With the scores at 0-0 in injury time, Gabriel Jesus brought down an exquisite long pass from Kevin De Bruyne before lofting the ball over Alex McCarthy and into the Southampton net.
It was a goal that elevated City into all-time greatness as the Centurions, an unprecedented achievement to crown the best league performance that the top flight has ever seen. It was the defining moment of Gabriel Jesus’s City career so far, and one that is unlikely to be topped regardless of how long he stays with the club.
