Brazilian-born striker Igor Thiago is on the cusp of a Premier League record, but it's not his first taste of success. Growing up in Cidade Ocidental, Thiago was determined to become a professional footballer, earning the promise of his mother Maria Diva that he would 'become a footballer and everyone will know me one day.' This promise sparked a drive within him to succeed against all odds.
Thiago faced rejection at trials around Brazil before finally signing with Gremio Ocidental at 17. His early years were marked by turmoil, however, as his family struggled financially. At one point, Thiago's mother had to explain that their family meal at her sister-in-law's would be at her expense due to her low income. The experience left the family in tears.
One person who recognized Thiago's potential was Sergio Goncalves, a former mentor and football coach who played an instrumental role in his development. Goncalves took Thiago under his wing when he was just a young boy.
Thiago has made a name for himself in Belgian top-flight club Brugge. During his time there, the forward scored 29 goals in a single season - a league record.
Since then, he was purchased by Brentford FC from Brugge at ยฃ30 million. Thiago's signing came with high expectations and a chance to compete with fellow Premier League top scorers such as Erling Haaland.
As the Brazilian national team prepares for their 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in March, Goncalves believes that Thiago should be included in Carlo Ancelotti's squad. This is because Brazil desperately needs an experienced striker.
Thiago's journey has been marked by perseverance and a commitment to his dream of playing at the highest level. It remains to be seen whether he will continue to excel on the pitch for Brentford, or if his national team ambitions become a reality.
Thiago faced rejection at trials around Brazil before finally signing with Gremio Ocidental at 17. His early years were marked by turmoil, however, as his family struggled financially. At one point, Thiago's mother had to explain that their family meal at her sister-in-law's would be at her expense due to her low income. The experience left the family in tears.
One person who recognized Thiago's potential was Sergio Goncalves, a former mentor and football coach who played an instrumental role in his development. Goncalves took Thiago under his wing when he was just a young boy.
Thiago has made a name for himself in Belgian top-flight club Brugge. During his time there, the forward scored 29 goals in a single season - a league record.
Since then, he was purchased by Brentford FC from Brugge at ยฃ30 million. Thiago's signing came with high expectations and a chance to compete with fellow Premier League top scorers such as Erling Haaland.
As the Brazilian national team prepares for their 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in March, Goncalves believes that Thiago should be included in Carlo Ancelotti's squad. This is because Brazil desperately needs an experienced striker.
Thiago's journey has been marked by perseverance and a commitment to his dream of playing at the highest level. It remains to be seen whether he will continue to excel on the pitch for Brentford, or if his national team ambitions become a reality.
, thiago's story is so inspiring, but can we really compare him to erling haaland? like, they're in different leagues and all that... and brentford fc just got ยฃ30 million for him, thats wild 
... but at the same time, brazil needs an experienced striker? shouldn't it be someone with more international experience? 
and what if thago just gets nervous on the big stage? he's had some major flops before 
...
Igor Thiago is soooo talented!!! 
i mean have you seen him play? he's like a god on the pitch lol! 
and that record in brugge? 
29 goals in one season?? 
i'm literally living for his games rn... i need to see him do this with brentford too!! 
Carlo ancilotti needs to include him in the brazil squad ASAP!!! 
he's gonna break so many records, mark my words!!! 
. It's also super inspiring to see how far he's come from struggling financially with his family 
. Now, the question is will he be able to balance his Premier League life with Brazil's national team ambitions? Either way, I'm hyped to watch him crush it on the pitch 
... like, can't we get some actual depth in these articles? This one's just a glorified highlight reel of Igor Thiago's life story. And don't even get me started on the lack of context - what about his playing style or any analysis of his strengths and weaknesses? Nope, just fluffy feel-good stuff about how he overcame poverty and found success 
. Can we at least get some stats or expert opinions to back up these claims? Just seems like a shallow piece to me... 
. With Goncalves' guidance, Thiago was able to develop his skills and stay focused on his goal, despite facing rejection and financial struggles at home. It's also impressive that he's already made a name for himself in Belgium and now has the potential to make an impact in the Premier League 
๏ธ.
This guy Igor Thiago is literally living proof that hard work & determination can take you far! I mean, he's been through so much since he was a kid - rejection at trials, financial struggles, but his mom kept believing in him 
That's insane! He deserves to be on Brazil's squad for the World Cup, hands down 
. I'm loving his story, it's so inspiring! 
#ThiagoForBrazil #BrentfordFC #FootballGoals
. His drive and determination are truly inspiring 
. I'm all for Goncalves' call-up to the Brazilian national team, they really need someone with Thiago's experience upfront 