Born in 

São Paulo, Jesus grew up in the neighbourhood of Jardim Peri. After initially playing street
football, he joined amateur clubs in the region, his last one being Associação Atlética Anhanguera. [8][9]

1.1 Club career[edit]

1.1.1 Palmeiras[edit]

Jesus warming up for Palmeiras in 2015

On 1 July 2013, Jesus signed a youth contract with Palmeiras.[8] He was also the club's top goalscorer
during the year, scoring 54 goals in 48 matches.[citation needed]
In January 2014, after lengthy negotiations, Jesus signed a three-year contract for Palmeiras with an
additional two, with his salary to increase from R$15,000 to four times as much in the fifth year; the
fee to buy him out from his contract increased tenfold to R$30 million. [10] However, the deal changed
the balance of his economic rights from 75 to 25% in favour of Palmeiras, to 70–30% in favour of his
agents.[11]
Jesus scored 37 goals in 22 games for Palmeiras in the 2014 edition of the state under-17
championship, leading to offers from clubs throughout the country and abroad. [8] He was first
included in Palmeiras' squad for a senior match on 27 August 2014, remaining an
unused substitute as they lost 0–1 at home to Clube Atlético Mineiro in the first leg of the last 16 of the
year's Copa do Brasil. He did not make any senior appearances during the campaign, as his side was
seriously threatened with relegation; [12] this decision, took by managers Ricardo Gareca and Dorival
Júnior, was widely criticized by the supporters, who demanded a change for the youngster through
a petition.[13]
Jesus made his senior debut on 7 March 2015 in the season's Campeonato Paulista, replacing Leandro
Pereira in the 73rd minute of a 1–0 win over CA Bragantino at Allianz Parque.[14] He totalled eight
appearances, all off the bench, as the Verdão lost on a penalty shoot-out in the final against Santos.[citation
needed]

Jesus made his first career start on 29 April in the second leg of the second round of the year's cup, a 1–1
draw at Sampaio Corrêa Futebol Clube (6–2 aggregate). On 9 May, he made his first appearance in
the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, starting in a 2–2 home draw against Atlético Mineiro on the first day
of the season.[15]
Jesus' first professional goal came in the next round of the cup, away to Agremiação Sportiva
Arapiraquense on 15 July, the only goal of the two-legged tie.[16] On 26 August, his two first-half strikes
at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto gave Palmeiras a 3–2 win over Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (5–3
aggregate), putting them into the quarter-finals.[17] Four days later he got his first league goals,
starting and finishing a 3–2 win over Joinville Esporte Clube; the first goal came after 52 seconds.[18]
Jesus finished the campaign with four goals from 20 games, and his team defeated Santos to win
the cup; he was also a starter in both legs of the finals, but being substituted before half-time due to
a shoulder injury. He was elected Best Newcomer in the league.[19]
On 4 February 2016, Jesus scored his first Paulista goal, opening a 2–2 home draw with Esporte
Clube São Bento in the second game of the season.[20] Twelve days later, he scored his first goal in
continental football, a 2–2 draw away to Uruguay's River Plate in the opening game of the group
stage of the year's Copa Libertadores, after coming on at the interval in place of fellow youngster Erik
Lima.[21] Away to Rosario Central on 6 April, he scored twice in a 3–3 draw but was sent off for the first
time in his career for fighting with Damián Musto; he later apologised for his misconduct. [22]
In the opening game of the national season at home to Clube Atlético Paranaense on 14 May, Jesus
scored twice in the second half of a 4–0 win.[23] He scored 12 goals as the team won their first
national championship since 1994, and was named Bola de Ouro for player of the season.[24]