Daily Star Sunday

Star Jesus is Ron his way right to the top

- By STEVE MILLAR

BRAZIL defender Miranda thinks compatriot Gabriel Jesus could go on to become the next Ronaldo.

Jesus, fresh from winning the Premier League title and Carabao Cup at Manchester City, is still a rookie in terms of World Cup experience.

But despite still only being 21, Miranda views him as a “mature” performer “who looks like he is in the back end of his career”.

Brazil legend Ronaldo is remembered as one of the game’s greatest strikers and scored 62 goals in 98 games for his country.

Jesus has made a promising start to his career on the internatio­nal stage, scoring 10 goals in 17 caps. And ahead of Brazil’s opener against Switzerlan­d in Rostov-on-Don tonight, Inter Milan star Miranda (above) said: “I’ve been very impressed with Gabriel. He might be our next Ronaldo.

“He’s so mature yet he’s just in the early stages of his career. Gabriel has a brilliant future ahead of him.

“We all have full confidence, too, in Neymar. He’s such a nice and humble guy.

“Neymar is our best player and one of the best in the world at the moment. He will be the best sooner rather than later.”

Brazil start the tournament with constant reminders of the embarrassi­ng 7-1 defeat at the hands of Germany in the World Cup semi-final four years ago on home soil.

But Miranda and the samba boys are desperate to move on from that and he believes the five-time champions can make it a nice half dozen.

He said: “No matter what happened at previous tournament­s we always go to a World Cup looking to win it.

“Obviously, it will be very tough but I hope we can come back from Russia with the sixth star on our shirts.” Brazil v Switzerlan­d,

Today, 7pm, ITV

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