Brentford's £30m gamble on Igor Thiago has paid off in spectacular fashion, as the Brazilian striker continues to dazzle with his performances in the Premier League. In just 11 games this season, Thiago has scored an impressive eight goals, second only to Erling Haaland.
Last season was a quiet, disjointed, and frustrating experience for Thiago after arriving from Club Brugge, where he had spent the previous year scoring 18 league goals. A knee injury restricted him to just eight appearances, 168 minutes, and no goals at Brentford. Despite his injuries, Thiago's talent and work ethic were evident, as he was tasked with replacing Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa – the trio who had accounted for 60% of Brentford's goals and a quarter of their assists in the previous season.
Born into poverty in Brazil, Thiago grew up playing football on the streets. His father died when he was just 13 years old, leaving him to care for his mother, Maria, who worked as a rubbish collector. Thiago took on various jobs to help support his family, including working as a bricklayer and carrying groceries at a local supermarket. These early struggles not only shaped Thiago's work ethic but also helped him appreciate the little things in life.
Thiago made his senior debut for Cruzeiro at 18, scoring four goals in 43 Série B appearances. His performances eventually caught the attention of Ludogorets, where he scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists to win back-to-back league titles. Club Brugge signed Thiago in 2023 for £7m, where he continued to impress before becoming Brentford's record signing in July 2024.
Thiago's task was clear: replace Ivan Toney and provide a spark at the top of Brentford's attack. Instead, injuries held him back, and his job became one of replacing Mbeumo and Wissa. However, Brentford have an excellent track record of replacing players, with previous signings like Ollie Watkins, Saïd Benrahma, Neal Maupay, David Raya, Toney, and Ezri Konsa all thriving under the club's management.
Thiago has thrived on long balls, timing his runs behind defences to perfection. He finishes with conviction, boasting a shot conversion rate of 32% that is one of the best in the league. Thiago also uses his strength and frame to his advantage, making him a nightmare for opponents who struggle against his relentless work rate.
Ronny Deila, Thiago's former Club Brugge coach, summed up his playing style perfectly: "Defenders hate playing against him. He presses non-stop, runs all the time and kicks them." With seven months to go before the World Cup, Thiago is now on Carlo Ancelotti's radar, with a great chance of joining Brazil's attack alongside other top strikers.
For Thiago, this season represents a dream come true – becoming a regular starter in the Premier League. He has already surpassed his personal goal tally from last season and is in contention for a spot at the World Cup. "I've always dreamed of being able to play for Brazil," Thiago told football journalist Josué Seixas. "When he takes me to the national team, I want to stay." With Thiago's impressive form and determination, it's difficult to see why he wouldn't be a top choice for Brazil in the World Cup.
Last season was a quiet, disjointed, and frustrating experience for Thiago after arriving from Club Brugge, where he had spent the previous year scoring 18 league goals. A knee injury restricted him to just eight appearances, 168 minutes, and no goals at Brentford. Despite his injuries, Thiago's talent and work ethic were evident, as he was tasked with replacing Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa – the trio who had accounted for 60% of Brentford's goals and a quarter of their assists in the previous season.
Born into poverty in Brazil, Thiago grew up playing football on the streets. His father died when he was just 13 years old, leaving him to care for his mother, Maria, who worked as a rubbish collector. Thiago took on various jobs to help support his family, including working as a bricklayer and carrying groceries at a local supermarket. These early struggles not only shaped Thiago's work ethic but also helped him appreciate the little things in life.
Thiago made his senior debut for Cruzeiro at 18, scoring four goals in 43 Série B appearances. His performances eventually caught the attention of Ludogorets, where he scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists to win back-to-back league titles. Club Brugge signed Thiago in 2023 for £7m, where he continued to impress before becoming Brentford's record signing in July 2024.
Thiago's task was clear: replace Ivan Toney and provide a spark at the top of Brentford's attack. Instead, injuries held him back, and his job became one of replacing Mbeumo and Wissa. However, Brentford have an excellent track record of replacing players, with previous signings like Ollie Watkins, Saïd Benrahma, Neal Maupay, David Raya, Toney, and Ezri Konsa all thriving under the club's management.
Thiago has thrived on long balls, timing his runs behind defences to perfection. He finishes with conviction, boasting a shot conversion rate of 32% that is one of the best in the league. Thiago also uses his strength and frame to his advantage, making him a nightmare for opponents who struggle against his relentless work rate.
Ronny Deila, Thiago's former Club Brugge coach, summed up his playing style perfectly: "Defenders hate playing against him. He presses non-stop, runs all the time and kicks them." With seven months to go before the World Cup, Thiago is now on Carlo Ancelotti's radar, with a great chance of joining Brazil's attack alongside other top strikers.
For Thiago, this season represents a dream come true – becoming a regular starter in the Premier League. He has already surpassed his personal goal tally from last season and is in contention for a spot at the World Cup. "I've always dreamed of being able to play for Brazil," Thiago told football journalist Josué Seixas. "When he takes me to the national team, I want to stay." With Thiago's impressive form and determination, it's difficult to see why he wouldn't be a top choice for Brazil in the World Cup.
. Thiago's form this season has been incredible, though! He's definitely one of the most exciting players in the Premier League right now. What's interesting to me is how he's adapted his game to fit Brentford's style, using those long balls to his advantage 
️. It's also cool to see how far he's come from playing on the streets of Brazil as a kid 
. He's got that underdog spirit that makes him hard to dislike 
he's like a shining example that if u have talent n dedication, nothin can stop u
Man, can you believe this guy Igor Thiago? He's like from nothing to something! Born poor in Brazil, had to take on jobs to help his family, but he still managed to become one of the best strikers in the Premier League 
And it's not just about scoring goals, it's his work rate and determination that makes him a nightmare for opponents 
. I mean, 32% shot conversion rate? That's insane! 
brentford was literally unstoppable with Igor thiago leading the charge 
his story is so inspiring 
from playing on the streets of brazil to becoming a premier league sensation is pure magic 
32% shot conversion rate? mind blown 
gotta give it up for thiago, he's got this whole "pressure" thing down pat 
. He didn't let his poverty or personal losses hold him back, instead he worked multiple jobs to support his family & played football whenever he could. That's what I call resilience 
. It just goes to show that if u stay focused & believe in urself, u can achieve anything u set ur mind to 
. Growing up playing football on the streets of Brazil, you can tell he's made it through some tough times 
. But that work ethic and determination have paid off in a big way 
! His stats are crazy 
and I'm loving how he takes on defenders like they're nothing 
, mark my words 
. Go Igor, you're living your dream 
!
it's amazing that he was able to turn those experiences into fuel for his passion for football, and now he's living proof that hard work and determination can take you to the top 
8 goals in 11 games? 
. And now, he's thriving in the Premier League, proving that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve their dreams 
I'm loving how Thiago has turned his season around! He's been through some tough times with injuries but that Brazilian grit is really paying off 
. Brentford are definitely getting a steal for £30m! 
. And can you believe the kid's going to be on Brazil's radar already? 