Rio Meets is where the biggest names in football tell the stories you’ve never heard before and in this episode Gabriel Jesus sits down with Rio Ferdinand for one of his most open and revealing interviews yet.

From growing up in a favela playing football outside a prison, to sharing a dressing room with legends at Manchester City, Jesus reflects on the journey that shaped him — both as a player and a person.

When discussing Arsenal’s title challenge, Jesus describes the difference in leadership between Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice along with the two young players who are “killers” in training who expects big things from.

He lifts the lid on working under Pep Guardiola - including the tactical demands, the intensity in training, and the one thing Pep tries to coach out of all the Brazilian players.

Jesus also reveals how he developed his bond with Neymar and why he thinks he’s the greatest player of his generation.

There are also incredible insights into elite dressing rooms, from Vincent Kompany’s leadership to Sergio Agüero’s mentality, plus Jesus’ ultimate 5-a-side team.

This is a conversation about football at the highest level — but more importantly, about mindset, identity and what it really takes to win.

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments and who you want Rio to sit down with next!

00:00 Intro: The boy from Brazil

01:14 Meeting Gabriel Jesus

01:29 Growing up in the Favelas: My first football

02:31 Playing at the Police Complex: More than just a game

03:56 The loss of passion in modern Brazilian football

05:16 The greatness of Neymar Jr.

07:27 Dealing with pressure in Brazil vs. England

09:02 When ex-players talk: Impact on the dressing room

11:35 Arriving at Man City: Meeting Pep & legends

13:16 Pep’s "Best Striker-Defender": Sacrificing for the team

14:31 Creating chaos: The role of the modern No. 9

16:42 How the game has changed in 10 years

18:55 Does Pep Guardiola allow freedom?

21:16 Coaching specifics: "Don't use your studs!"

23:10 The unpredictability of playing for Pep

25:16 Vincent Kompany: A manager in the making

27:11 Rio’s most under-appreciated teammates

29:22 The Mikel Arteta effect at Arsenal

31:01 The mental shift: From 2nd place to Champions

33:54 Dressing room leaders: Declan Rice & Martin Ødegaard

36:05 Why modern squads need 22 captains

37:07 Training with Declan Rice: "The Horse"

40:23 Bukayo Saka: Humble, strong, and elite

42:38 Comparison: Saka vs. Vinícius & Rodrygo

44:21 The next generation: Max Dowman & Ethan Nwaneri

47:51 Dark moments: Dealing with long-term injury

50:28 Nutrition and lifestyle changes

51:41 Finding faith: Baptism and perspective

54:00 The life of a footballer: Missing major family moments

55:46 Gabby Heinze: The "crazy" coach at Arsenal

57:12 Defending Arsenal’s set-piece "dark arts"

01:01:44 Final prediction: Will Arsenal win the league?

01:02:45 Picking the Ultimate 5-A-Side Team (No Keepers)

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With only 90 minutes of international football before Thomas Tuchel names his England World Cup squad, Rio Ferdinand sits down with Joel Beya and Ste Howson to break down the real decisions facing England - and it’s not as straightforward as people think.

From inside insight into the England camp, to the big calls Thomas Tuchel has to make, you’ll hear Rio pick his starting XI for the important knockout matches and the truth about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence from the squad.

There’s analysis on whether Harry Maguire really is England’s 5th choice central defender (behind Trevor Chalobah) and why Luis Enrique’s impact on Ousmane Dembele will help France in the summer.

Rio also reveals why he would not go to Tottenham if he was Roberto De Zerbi and which African sides could cause surprises at the World Cup.

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One of the most iconic goalscorers sits down with Rio to reveal what made him so lethal as an Argentina and Serie A number 9.

Having shared a dressing room and friendship with the legendary Diego Maradona, Batistuta reveals what it was like for team mates and managers to share a dressing room and feed off his persona.

Batistuta gives some amazing insight into the life of Maradona and how his upbringing led to an extraordinary life of fame and success both on and off the pitch before a sad demise.

After comparing Maradona to Lionel Messi, Batistuta names the three world strikers that impress him the most in today’s game and also reveals how and injury and resulting pain in his ankle made him ask a surgeon to amputate it.

Thankfully, he was able to overcome that pain and now sits down with Rio to show a side of his character that few have ever seen - including a discussion where they both dissect each other’s games after Rio admitted ‘Batigol’ was the first “iconic” striker he faced - in the 2002 World Cup.

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