Brazil’s strike force for a 2014 World Cup on home soil consisted of Fred and Jô. Approaching what would be the most important tournament of them all for a generation of Brazilians with such a paucity of options in the No 9 role was always a disappointment.
The country which had produced Ademir, Romario, Ronaldo and, perhaps the greatest forward of them all, Pelé, looked unrecognisably thin on the ground up front.
This isn’t to criticise Fred, who had been scoring more than a goal every other game in his previous few seasons for Fluminense, and was very good at what he did, but he seemed more suited to being a great backup option, rather than the main man.
And speaking of backup options, there weren’t any. Hulk was always better cutting in from the right rather than leading the line, and Neymar’s precocious talent is more effectively utilised slightly deeper and wider. Jô, meanwhile, had contributed to Atletico Mineiro’s Copa Libertadores triumph a year earlier, but has never looked like an international level striker.
Even if they were any good, Fred was 30, and Jo and Hulk 27. Brazil needed new No 9s from their still productive but decelerating conveyor belt of talent.
Despite having trod different paths, the right pair of old size nines duly arrived; too late for 2014, but just in time for a new direction under forward-thinking manager, Tite.
Gabriel Jesus’ stock has risen as quickly as his goal tally. He’s gone from youth football on the outskirts of São Paulo and starring in the city’s junior cup for Palmeiras, to Tite’s main man up front for the Brazil national team and Pep Guardiola’s most reliable forward at Manchester City.
His rise is testament to the dedication of a boy from a poor background who never missed training and applied himself in a determined manner on and off the pitch.
“He was always first in line for exercises and drills – he wasn’t one of those who loitered at the back pretending to do the drill, like so many are,” his youth coach José Francisco Mamede told The Guardian.
“I’ve had at least 10 young players here who were as good, if not better than him, but they didn’t make it because they were lazy. Something that Gabriel never was.”
The work rate which accompanies his immense talent has seen him become an outstanding modern day centre forward. Players in this position are now asked to do much more than score goals, and these are traits he shares with compatriot Roberto Firmino.
Born in the northeast of Brazil, Firmino travelled south to begin his professional career after taking his first steps in football at Clube de Regatas Brasil in his hometown of Maceió.
Having been rejected by scouts at São Paulo, he joined Figueirense where he moved into a more attacking position, having been used as a holding midfielder in his early years.
Youth coach Guilherme Farias commented that “he tackles as well as he strikes the ball,” which may go some way to explaining his dogged defensive work even while operating as a striker.
The next important development in Firmino’s career was a move to Germany and Hoffenheim, where he caught the eye of the then Borussia Dortmund manager, Jurgen Klopp.
Firmino arrived at Liverpool before Klopp, but the forward’s presence in the squad he was set to inherit was one of the reasons the manager, who could have had his pick of European clubs, chose Liverpool.
Firmino’s development under Klopp has benefitted him hugely, as he moved from attacking midfield positions to become Liverpool’s bona fide No 9 -- a complete centre forward.
In turn this has also benefited Brazil, as the two men who look set to lead the line in the 2018 World Cup learn their trade under two of the best managers in world football.
While Neymar is Brazil’s best brand, Gabriel Jesus and Firmino will hope to be Brazil’s best footballers.
To see the pair in the same side would be an unexpected World Cup joy.
Firmino’s tenacious but flair-infused forward play, coupled with his eccentric and infectious character could be the perfect foil for the skilful poaching instincts of Gabriel Jesus. The versatility offered by both means a link-up could be possible, but it’ll be up to Tite to make it happen.
Both are able to play wide, but the most potent use of the pair may be to reflect the formations used by their clubs, which aren’t too different to the ones used by the Brazil boss.
Prior to picking up a knee injury, from which he should recover fairly soon, Gabriel Jesus had partnered Aguero in certain games, and much like Mohamed Salah does when playing alongside Firmino for Liverpool, he had been more than just a winger.
He would regularly join Aguero up front and on occasions become the most advanced forward in the side as the Argentine dropped into midfield to help build attacks, much to Guardiola’s delight.
Firmino and Gabriel Jesus have played just three minutes of football together so far, which came at the end of Brazil’s 3-0 win against Chile in World Cup qualification as Firmino replaced Philippe Coutinho in the final minutes.
This means an attacking partnership seems unlikely at this stage, but anything can happen during the course of a World Cup.
From Fred and Jo to Firmino and Jesus, Brazil will be hoping their new strike force can begin to ease the suffering caused by the 2014 World Cup,
Much more will be needed from the rest of the team if they’re to win the tournament this time around, but two No 9s at the top of their game will be a big help.
