Igor Thiago: From Humble Beginnings to Premier League Record Breaker
Igor Thiago, a young talent from Brazil, has achieved what many could only dream of: breaking the record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian player in a single Premier League season.
The Brentford forward has always been resolute in his ambition to become a professional footballer, a promise he made to his mother, Maria Diva, while growing up in Cidade Ocidental, a small town in central Brazil.
One pivotal moment in his childhood was a family gathering where everyone was expected to bring a dish. As a single mother raising four children on a minimum wage as a refuse collector, Diva arrived empty-handed. Thiago overheard a relative say they only took their children out to eat at others' expense, which deeply humiliated his mother and left her in tears.
“From today on, no one will humiliate you again,” Thiago vowed on their way home. “I’m going to become a footballer, and one day everyone will know my name.”
Although his mother may have doubted his understanding of the challenges ahead, Thiago was determined.
His journey to success was fraught with obstacles, as he faced multiple rejections at trials across Brazil before finally signing with a club at the age of 17.
“Thiago would call me late at night in tears, doubting if football was meant for him,” recalls Sergio Goncalves, his mentor from the Gremio Ocidental community initiative. “But he was born to score goals.”
Now at 24, Thiago has netted 16 goals in the Premier League this season and is poised to reach the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his career, having achieved this feat in three of his four seasons in Europe. His only setback was during his debut season with Brentford, which was marred by a serious injury.
Thiago’s next challenge is a west London derby against Chelsea this Saturday.
Overcoming Adversity
After losing his father at a young age, Thiago found a paternal figure in Goncalves, who guided him from the ages of eight to sixteen. He later joined Vere in 2018 before moving to the renowned Brazilian club, Cruzeiro, a year later.
“People see him and think he’s just a big, static center-forward,” Goncalves explains. “But his experience in futsal has given him incredible dynamism and quick thinking. Many scouts now regret not recognizing his potential sooner.”
Thiago made an immediate impact at Cruzeiro, scoring on his senior debut in Belo Horizonte. However, his early career was marred by the club's struggles, remembered as one of the worst in its history, finishing 11th and 14th in Serie B in 2020 and 2021.
“The pressure was immense, affecting both players and coaching staff during a tumultuous time for the club,” says former Brazil international Mozart Santos, who briefly coached the team. “Younger players like Thiago felt it the most, which hindered his performance.”
This challenging period led Thiago into a state of depression, questioning his future in football. “There were nights when I considered giving it all up,” he admitted in an interview with the Futebol no Mundo podcast. “Despite being a professional at Cruzeiro, I wanted nothing to do with football anymore. My strength came from my mother and my children.”
A New Chapter
In early 2022, Thiago decided it was time for a change. Ludogorets, the Bulgarian champions who had previously shown interest, secured his signing.
“In football, people often try to label others, especially players going through tough times,” says Rafael Ferreira, a former assistant coach at Ludogorets. “But I believe everyone has the potential to grow in the right environment, and Thiago exemplifies that mentality. When he didn’t get minutes, he sought opportunities to play elsewhere, demonstrating his determination.”
Thiago quickly made a name for himself at Ludogorets, scoring 20 goals in one season, which led to a transfer to Club Brugge in Belgium.
“He had a knack for scoring even when he received limited playing time,” Ferreira added. “It was as if he attracted good fortune.”
Chasing Dreams
Thiago scored an impressive 29 goals in his only season with Club Brugge, prompting Brentford to pay a club record £30 million for his services as a replacement for Ivan Toney, who transferred to Saudi club Al-Ahli.
“He always spoke of his dream to play in the Premier League and admired Erling Haaland,” said Cauly, a former Ludogorets midfielder. “Now he’s competing with Haaland for the Premier League's top scorer title, which fills me with pride. He truly deserves this success; he has a good heart.”
As Brazil seeks a top striker ahead of the upcoming World Cup, there is growing anticipation that head coach Carlo Ancelotti will include Thiago in the squad for the March selection.
“For me, he must be in the next squad, which is the last chance before the tournament,” Cauly stated.