Gabriel Jesus has apologised and admitted he needs to grow up after throwing a huge tantrum following his red card during Brazil’s Copa America triumph.

Brazil beat Peru 3-1 in the final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro to secure their first Copa America title for 12 years.

However, the match was overshadowed by Jesus’s spectacular outburst in the 70th minute, when he was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

Having already been booked in the first-half, the Manchester City striker was given his marching orders by referee Roberto Tobar after jumping into the back of Peru defender Carlos Zambrano.

Jesus immediately protested his innocence and, at first, it appeared as though he would not leave the pitch.

When the 22-year-old did finally accept the dismissal, the drama continued to unfold as he kicked a water bottle in anger and punched a dugout.

He then took out his frustration on a VAR monitor, which he pushed over — it was only saved from crashing to the ground by a nearby official — before heading down the tunnel.

Read more Brazil win Copa America as hosts beat Peru 3-1 at Maracana

There, the striker was filmed in floods of tears as he continued to remonstrate about his dismissal.

Jesus’s emotion at the time was most likely born out of his fear that he had potentially cost Brazil the Copa America title.

At the time of his sending-off, Brazil were only 2-1 up and Peru, who last won the championship in 1975, would have fancied their chances of mounting a comeback, given their numerical advantage.

In the end, though, victory was assured for the hosts when Everton forward Richarlison scored a penalty in the last minute of regulation time.

After the final whistle, a relieved Jesus was quick to say sorry for his outburst. “I want to apologise,” he said. “I could have avoided it and I also need to grow up a lot. I didn’t think of hurting anyone — and I didn’t — but I put them at risk.”

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Until his red card, the striker had been the star of the show, setting up Everton for the game’s opening goal in the 15th minute.

Peru striker Paolo Guerrero had levelled the match from the penalty spot a minute before half-time after Thiago Silva was adjudged to have handled the ball, but Jesus scored just moments later to restore Brazil’s lead and cap off a superb first half for the City forward.

His sending-off marred what was otherwise a well-deserved match-winning performance by Brazil, whose head coach, Tite, said: “I have no words to describe this happiness.”