11 Interesting Gabriel Martinelli Facts From Childhood In Brazil

Full Name: Gabriel Teodoro Martinelli Silva

Date of Birth: 18 June 2001

Place of Birth: Guarulhos, Brazil

Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Position(s): Forward

Current Club: Arsenal

Jersey Number: 11

Very few players follow a path quite like Gabriel Martinelli. His rise carries the feel of something stitched together by instinct, sharp turns, and moments that don’t quite look real on paper.

These aren’t just career markers; they map out how a player built on pace, grit, and confidence ended up on one of football’s biggest stages.

Here are 11 Interesting Gabriel Martinelli Facts From Childhood In Brazil

1. He was Born in Guarulhos, São Paulo

Gabriel Martinelli was born on 18 June 2001 in Guarulhos, a busy city on the edge of São Paulo known for producing raw football talent.

It’s the kind of place where football is part of everyday life long before stadium lights ever come into the picture. Martinelli grew up with that environment shaping him early on.

2. He Started His Football Career Playing Futsal For Corinthians

By age nine, Martinelli was already playing futsal with Corinthians. That format of the game, tight spaces and quick reactions played a big role in shaping his first touch and close control.

It’s often where his sharp movement and fast decision-making are traced back to.

Even at that age, the ball seemed to stick to him in a different way.

3. He Had Trials at Manchester United and Barcelona

Between 2015 and 2018, Martinelli spent time trialling with both Manchester United and Barcelona. Big clubs, big expectations, but no final move came at the time.

Those experiences still marked an important step in his early development, giving him exposure to elite training environments before his breakthrough in Brazil.

4. He is the Youngest Player to Play for Ituano in the 21st Century

Mark the date: March 17, 2018. A 16-year-old Martinelli came off the bench in a match against São Bento, and just like that, became the youngest player to feature for Ituano this century.

Sixteen years and nine months! Most kids that age are picking high school electives. Gabi? He was stepping into professional football like it was his backyard. Ituano took a chance. Martinelli grabbed it by the scruff.

5. He Holds An Italian Passport, Thanks To His Father

Surprise, Martinelli’s not just Brazilian. Thanks to his dad’s Italian roots, he also holds an Italian passport. His heritage is more than a passport, though, it’s part of who he is.

That golden little booklet not only means he can snack on pasta like a local, but it also made his transfer to Arsenal a whole lot smoother. No red-tape visa drama, no South American work permit chaos. Just one efficient leap into Premier League life.

6. He Scored A Brace in His First Competitive Start For Arsenal

Talk about first impressions! On 24 September 2019, in a League Cup clash against Nottingham Forest, Martinelli made his first competitive start for the Gunners, and promptly lit it up with a brace in a 5–0 win. Boom. Boom. Two goals, no fuss.

He played like he didn’t get the memo about "easing in." The second one? A thumping header like he’d been doing this for years. Not bad for a teenager fresh off the plane from São Paulo.

7. He is the First Player to Score 4 Goals in His First 4 Starts Since Ian Wright

Now this is a royalty-level company. After netting in rapid succession during his early Arsenal games, Martinelli bagged four goals in his first four starts, becoming the first to do so since none other than Ian Wright.

We’re talking Arsenal folklore here. Martinelli didn’t just arrive, he crash-landed into Arsenal history. You’ve got to be a bit special to echo Wrighty’s early numbers. Gabi? He just shrugged and kept scoring.

8. Jurgen Klopp Once Labelled Him the "Talent of the Century"

You know you’ve made waves when Jürgen Klopp, a man who doesn’t hand out praise like free samples, calls you “the talent of the century.”

That was after Martinelli’s electric display in a bonkers 5–5 League Cup draw against Liverpool in October 2019. Klopp was visibly impressed. And when Klopp rates a young gun? You listen. He’s seen Salah, Mane, Bellingham, the lot.

9. He is the First Arsenal Teenager to Score 10 Goals in A Season Since Anelka

Throw it back to the late 1990s, Nicolas Anelka, terrorising defences, teenage cool personified. Fast forward to 2019–20, and up pops Martinelli, matching that very feat with 10 goals as a teenager.

No Arsenal youngster had hit double digits in a season since the Frenchman himself. That’s over two decades of talent, and Gabi went and broke the dry spell. Not bad for a kid who was meant to be eased in gently.

10. His First Goal vs Leeds was Arsenal’s 7,000th Top-flight Goal

Here’s a juicy stat for the pub quiz crowd. On December 18, 2021, Martinelli scored the opener in a thumping 4–1 win over Leeds United. What’s the big deal? Oh, nothing, just Arsenal’s 7,000th top-division goal.

That’s right. Of the thousands of Gunners to lace up boots since 1886, it was Gabi who fired in that landmark strike. A milestone moment in the club's history, and you best believe he made it look easy.

11. He is the First Brazilian to Score Premier League Season Opener

August 5, 2022. Crystal Palace. Premier League opening night. Lights, cameras, Martinelli. With a slick header in a 2–0 win, he etched his name into the books as the first Brazilian ever to score the opening goal of a Premier League season.

Think of all the Brazilians who’ve dazzled in England; none of them did this. That’s some legacy stat, right there. The Samba Nation will be pleased that their boy made more history.

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