Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer window updates delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Gabriel Jesus wants to make history with Brazil after being handed the No.9 shirt for the World Cup.

The 21-year-old saw his second season at Manchester City disrupted by injury but rounded off the season in style by scoring with his last touch against Southampton on the final day to lift the team to 100 Premier League points.

His position at Brazil has never been in doubt under coach Tite, who has backed the youngster despite a strong showing from Roberto Firmino for Liverpool. While Firmino started on the bench at Anfield for the World Cup warmup game with Croatia, Jesus was captaining the team for the first time despite being the youngest member of the squad.

He enjoyed a solid first outing as Brazil captain as he lasted 60 minutes in a 2-0 win, Neymar scoring on his return from injury and Firmino adding one in injury time.

"This question of Firmino is good for me, for Brazil. Not only (to create competition) for the striker position, but all of them. He wants to play and that makes me want to improve too," he told AP.

"Since I started as a professional at Palmeiras I always had to fight for my position. It was like that in 2015, when I became professional. Palmeiras had signed more than 15 players and I was scared. But then I took the challenge. "That was good for me because I made the extra effort."

Jesus became the sixth youngest Brazilian ever to captain the national team, and the youngest since 1995 when he took the armband on Sunday afternoon.

It has also been confirmed that he will wear the No.9 shirt for the World Cup, the jersey worn so memorably in the past by Ronaldo among others.

The young striker is used to taking everything in his stride, having enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Brazilian league and swapped his hometown for Manchester when he was still a teenager.

And even though the latest pressures have been unexpected, Jesus is determined the meet the challenges with his usual vigour.

“I was very surprised when I found out but I also already knew that coach Tite demands everyone shows leadership in the national team,” he said.

"Danilo was joking with me and I said told him that if he did not cross the ball to me properly I would give him a dressing down,” he joked.

“I have the opportunity today to wear a very special shirt and the coach has made it clear that I am a leader of tomorrow.

"I didn't expect even to be a footballer, but I always dreamt of that. It is no different with wearing No. 9. Many players made history with Brazil wearing it, I want to follow their path."