The two tattoos, one on the left calf of Neymar Jr. and the other on the right forearm of Gabriel Jesus, are striking, similar and significant.
They depict a young Brazilian with a football under his arm, looking up at a Sao Paulo favela and dreaming big.
At 25, Neymar has now established himself among football’s biggest and best, to the extent Paris Saint-Germain paid a world record £200 million to lure him away from Barcelona last summer and he came third in the 2017 Ballon D’Or.
Jesus, five years younger, may only be just embarking on his quest to win major trophies with Manchester City, but has been widely tipped to emulate the feats of his compatriot and close friend in rising from the slums to superstardom.
It is something he wants too, but, despite being linked by ink, the frontman is eager to create his own fairytale.
“Each individual is different from one another,” Jesus tells Sport360. “He’s building his story, I’m building mine.
“Neymar deserves all the credit for everything he has accomplished and I’m always cheering for him.
“We’re close. When we’re playing together we’re always helping one another, and helping the national team, and maybe playing in the same club in the future.
“But I’m going to try to build my own story. We each have our own path, but I hope to conquer the things he’s been conquering.”
Driven by their childhood desire and bonded by brilliance, the pair’s relationship has blossomed on and off the field as they have lifted Brazil back to the top of international football.
Jesus, who has eight goals in 13 games since being handed the coveted No9 shirt for the Selecao in 2016, enjoys every opportunity to team up with Neymar.
“Not only myself, I think even the most experienced players learn from Neymar,” he adds.
“He’s a very positive guy. He’s a [grown] man, but at the same time I consider him a kid because he’s always smiling and joking around with everyone.
“I hope he keeps this attitude because it helps everyone and I keep learning from him more and more.”
Having been relatively unknown beyond his homeland where he inspired Palmeiras to a long-awaited Brazilian league title with 12 goals, his £27 million signing by City was deemed a gamble by some.
But that transfer fee now seems somewhat of a bargain after a stunning impact since his January arrival at the Etihad, scoring 15 times and assisting six goals in 24 Premier League appearances disrupted by a foot injury.
With a skill set and swagger that belied his teenage years, Jesus has become the rough diamond that has sparkled so brightly his value has soared substantially and brought plaudits from Brazil icons like Pele and Ronaldo, to whom he has been compared.
Neymar has revealed former Barca team-mate Lionel Messi is the most skillful player he has starred alongside, but added: “After that it’s Gabriel Jesus – he’s incredibly skillful.”
While he has had to fight for first-team starts with club record scorer Sergio Aguero in this campaign, Jesus, now 20, has still notched 10 times.
Neymar (R) with Gabriel Jesus
“Yes, this start of the season has been great for me, a dream,” says the frontman, whose amazing run of not losing a competitive match for either Brazil or City ended at 403 days with the 2-1 midweek Champions League defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk.
“I’ve been working really hard. When the coach and the team need me, I’m always available for them and hope to continue like this.”
With Aguero struggling in tough recent league games against Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham, City boss Pep Guardiola could turn to Jesus to help unlock Manchester United’s defence in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at Old Trafford.
The 175th derby has already been dubbed a title decider as City could extend their lead to 11 points should they claim a 14th successive league win by overcoming their second-placed neighbours, who are unbeaten themselves in a record-equalling 40 home matches.
And Jesus is aware of the Manchester rivalry, evoking memories of a showdown between Brazil and arch-foes Argentina.
“A little bit, yes,” he adds. “I think Brazil-Argentina is a bigger rivalry because we’re talking about two national teams, two countries. But it’s not that distant, it’s similar, it’s a Clasico.
“It’s going to be a good match, a big match, between big players from big clubs.
“We’ll try to win because it’s very important. It’s also a head-to-head match with our positions in the table.
“So there’s the size of the match, but we have to be clear that we’re going there to try to win.
“I don’t believe United will play defensively because just like us, they need the result. If they play like they did against Arsenal [when they attacked], that will make it an open game and that will suit us.”
Free and fearless is how Jesus plays too and it is remarkable how quickly he has come to the footballing fore, having lived in that Jardim Peri favela until he was 16 and only making his professional debut two years ago.
The humble hero has also charted big moments in his life through tattoos.
Some are personal, such as ones honouring his mother, Vera Lucia, who has been the biggest influence on his life and career having raised him in a single-parent family.
Then there are the sporting achievements, with Rio 2016 and the Olympic rings symbolising an unforgettable appearance at the Games, where Jesus helped his nation strike gold on home soil with a penalty shoot-out win over Germany – two years after a 7-1 World Cup humbling by the same opponents.
And he’s ready to add to the artwork should more triumphs follow this season.
With City impressive in the league so far, already in the League Cup quarter finals and the last 16 of the Champions League, Brazil are also eyeing a sixth World Cup success at next year’s finals in Russia.
“Yes, I would add more,” he says with a laugh. “A Premier League tattoo, I would have to think about it.
“But if we win the World Cup I would definitely do a tattoo. And if I ever win the Champions League I would also do one.”
With City and Brazil looking good at the moment, there is every chance Jesus could be covering himself in more glory.
