In a night of pure emotion at the San Siro, Gabriel Jesus didn’t just lead Arsenal to victory—he etched his name into the history of Brazilian football. On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, during Arsenal’s 3–1 win over Inter Milan, Jesus scored twice, officially breaking into the top five leading Brazilian scorers in UEFA Champions League history.
For a player who spent nearly 11 months on the sidelines recovering from a cruciate ligament tear, this milestone felt like more than just a statistic; it was a statement of his return to the world stage.
The Elite Circle: Brazil’s All-Time UCL Scorers
With his clinical brace against Inter, Jesus reached 26 career goals in the competition. He surpassed the legendary Mário Jardel and
moved level with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.
However, the list moved quickly on the same night, as Vinícius Júnior also climbed the rankings during Real Madrid's rout of Monaco.
1.Neymar,43
2.Vinícius Júnior,30
3.Kaká,30
4.Rivaldo,27
5.Gabriel Jesus,26
6.Rodrygo,26
Note: Vinícius Júnior moved into joint-second place (30 goals) on the same evening, meaning the competition between the modern Brazilian generation is at an all-time high.
A "Dream Night" in Milan
For Jesus, the achievement was bittersweet. Having missed the majority of 2025 due to injury, his two close-range finishes (10’ and 31’) were his first Champions League goals in over two years.
The Landmark Moment:
Arsenal’s 400th: His opening goal was officially recorded as Arsenal's 400th goal in European Cup/Champions League history.
The Emotion: Speaking to Amazon Prime post-match, Jesus was visibly moved: "To be in this stadium and score here brings tears to my eyes. I am not a kid anymore, I am 28, and I’ve learned so much during my 11 months away from the field."
Selection Headache for Arteta
With summer signing Viktor Gyokeres struggling for consistent rhythm, Jesus’ Man of the Match performance has given Mikel Arteta a major "selection conundrum" ahead of Sunday’s massive Premier League clash against Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta: "Gabi has a special relationship with this competition. You see the movement, the hunger. To be in that top five with those names is a testament to his quality. He has worked so hard to get back to this level."
The Verdict: While Neymar’s record of 43 goals remains a distant peak, the race for the "best of the rest" is heating up. With Arsenal mathematically secured in the Round of 16, Jesus has plenty of opportunities left this season to chase down Rivaldo’s 27 goals and climb even higher.