Why Gabriel Jesus deserves to beat Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele for Golden Boy award

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • The prestigious Golden Boy award is down to the final three with PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus making up a talented trio.

    With all three grounded in Europe’s elite, it’s probable we’ll see the youngsters vying for Ballon d’Or honours in the not-too-distant future.

    But for now we take a look at which candidate deserves to take home the gong.

    OUSMANE DEMBELE (BARCELONA)

    It’s a shame in the world of myopic stances that Ousmane Dembele got the injury when he did because the Barcelona winger was outstanding for Borussia Dortmund last season.

    His achievements have been diminished by this season’s form of  both Mbappe and Jesus but unlike the other two contenders, he was superb across the entirety of the previous campaign.

    If you didn’t get the opportunity to watch him glide past Bundesliga defences last term, the statistics justify his inclusion in the top three.

    The Frenchman managed a staggering 105 successful take-ons last season, trumping both Mbappe (27) and Jesus (10). When he beat his man, he delivered as well, providing an assist for Dortmund every 169 minutes, which was a better record than Neymar managed over 189 minutes for Barcelona.

    Need more? He registered 12 assists, more than any other player aged 21 and under in Europe’s top-five leagues and displayed his unique dexterity by scoring and setting up goals with either foot – 11 goals right, 6 left, 10 assists left, 7 right in the league since 2015/16.

    He’s still in the fledgling stage of his France career but has one goal in seven games – a beauty against England, a game in which both he and Mbappe tore Gareth Southgate’s side apart – and the same can be said of his club-record Barca move.

    In Dembele’s fleeting minutes he showed glimpses of his quality to give the Catalan club some much needed natural width but he also showed that he required some adjusting to a new style of football, particularly with his passing under the microscope.

    Still, he warrants his place among the top three but ultimately his injury absence has curtailed his ability to break beyond that.

    GABRIEL JESUS (MAN CITY)

    Now, a look at the two who will contest the top spot. There are several equalisers when you compare the pair.

    In Jesus’s favour is the fact he’s scored goals in a league which is usually regarded as the tougher. The 20-year-old has netted 13 times in 18 Premier League appearances and is breathing down the neck of Sergio Aguero.

    It’s not just his South American counterpart he’s chasing down either because his six goals in eight mean he is on the shoulder of the league’s golden duo Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku.

    But even at 20, it’s clear already the Brazilian is a rare breed of striker. He marries his ruthless accuracy in front of goal with intelligent movement on either side of the ball.

    In City’s high-intensity press, his enthused defensive work has impressed and from last season to this, he’s transitioned from prospect to a proven commodity, his two goals in three Champions League games a credit to his development.

    Granted, he’s disadvantaged by a combination of his inability to play in Europe last season and Mbappe’s exploits for Monaco in the Champions League – we’ll get to that later – but he’s been directly involved in 21 goals in 20 starts in all competitions for City (15 goals, 6 assists).

    Domestically, his impact is undeniable, Europe is the drawback but how about internationally?

    The counter to Mbappe’s Champions League form is Jesus’s growing importance for Brazil. Yes, Neymar is the undoubted star but since Tite took the charge the reliance on the former Barca flyer has diminished, the creative responsibility shared and embraced by Jesus.

    As Selecao’s No9, leading a fluid 4-1-4-1, Jesus has spearheaded their resurrection which has many tipping them for triumph in Russia. He only debuted in September 2016 but ended the year as their top scorer with five goals in his first four internationals.

    He’s since added a sixth and his remarkable rise on the international stage is a cornerstone argument for his Golden Boy claim.

    Gabriel Jesus celebrates for City earlier this season

    Gabriel Jesus celebrates for City earlier this season

    KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG)

    Many corners of the football world have already crowned Mbappe but before he’s ordained there’s a few things to consider.

    To start, age shouldn’t be a factor when you’re judging the Golden Boy. Mbappe is simply either better than Jesus or not.

    We are, though, talking about two very unique talents. Mbappe has been likened to Thierry Henry but in truth it’s hard to pin down a comparison.

    While he was produced by the same club, in the same position and at a similarly rapid rate, he boasts size, speed and skill, his long limbs seem to crawl across pitches rather than power past players.

    His breakaways for Monaco last term and now PSG are breathtaking and if defenders do manage to get close to him, his remarkable dribbling ability ensures he slips away.

    Physically gifted, technically talented and intelligent, too, it’s easy to see why he is a frontrunner.

    And then the statistics further reinforce his claim. During Monaco’s ascension to Ligue 1 glory the 18-year-old scored 15 goals and added 8 assists, carrying that attacking thrust into the Champions League where he became the first player to net in each of his first four knockout games in the competition.

    He’s broken another European record since moving to PSG as well, his eighth goal in just 12 games the latest in midweek ensuring he’s the highest scoring teenager in the comp’s history.

    Delivering in the Champions League is a tremendous achievement and he’s shown development with the Paris giants as well.

    Indeed, he has three assists and two goals in five games but his movement and link-up play with Edinson Cavani and Neymar from the right-wing spot has been staggeringly good.

    All sweet, right? There is one drawback and that is internationally. He has one goal and one assist in eight games but has largely been more effective from the bench.

    That’s probably more of an indictment of Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps who isn’t really quite sure what do with him using him through the middle and out wide.

    Of course, that’s fastidious but then this is arguably one of the richest talent pools we’ve had for the Golden Boy award in recent years.

    PSG forward Kylian Mbappe is the favourite to win the award

    PSG forward Kylian Mbappe is the favourite to win the award

    VERDICT

    So, with everything laid on the table, who is the pick?

    It’s clearly incredibly difficult but Jesus should be the winner. His form for club and country is outstanding, he’s already shown that translates onto the European stage and the fact he wasn’t registered by City is the only reason he hasn’t opportunity to score more in the Champions League.

    It’s a case of Jesus’s combination of Premier League and Brazil versus Mbappe’s Ligue 1 and Champions League exploits. Difficult to choose but Jesus is our Golden Boy.

    Recommended