11 Interesting Gabriel Martinelli Facts From Childhood In Brazil
- Think Football Ideas
- May 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 3
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 can trace a path quite like Gabriel Martinelli’s. From the grit of his childhood to the sharp turns of his early career, his story is stitched with moments that feel almost mythic, the kind of facts you double-check, then grin at.
These aren’t just milestones; they’re part of a sprint through the defining moments that made him who he is, markers of a player who’s never done things the usual way. Buckle up.
Here are 11 Interesting Gabriel Martinelli Facts From Childhood In Brazil
1. He was Born in Guarulhos, São Paulo
Gabriel Martinelli came into the world on June 18, 2001, in Guarulhos, São Paulo’s gritty, bustling neighbour that churns out footballers like it's an assembly line. The kind of place where, if you blink, a wonderkid zooms past your front door with a ball at his feet.
Martinelli was a kid in love with the ball long before he ever dreamed of Emirates Stadium glory. Guarulhos may not have the glam of Rio or the global fame of São Paulo proper, but hey, it gave us Gabi. We owe it a thank you!
2. He Started His Football Career Playing Futsal For Corinthians
By age nine, Martinelli was already outfoxing defenders in the tight, rapid-fire world of futsal with Corinthians. Futsal! The street-fighting, samba-slick version of the game where touch and instinct are everything.
2010 was the year it began. If you're wondering where Martinelli's blistering first touch and close control came from, it was honed on those unforgiving courts. Small spaces. Big talent. No wonder he grew up playing like he’s got afterburners in his boots.
3. He Had Trials at Manchester United and Barcelona
Hmm! Martinelli's football gap year, where he flirted with giants. Between 2015 and 2018, he quietly had trials with not one, but two football monoliths: Manchester United and Barcelona.
Yep, the kind of clubs that send shivers down spines and cause teenagers to post Instagram countdowns. Though neither snapped him up (their loss, anyway).
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 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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