Brentford
Brentford star Igor Thiago has admitted he didn’t think in his wildest dreams he’d ever be up against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot this season.
AS have an interview with the Brentford striker today. He discusses his meteoric rise this season, which has him competing for top goalscorer and featuring for Brazil.
Brentford low to Brentford high
Igor Thiago joined Brentford in 2024 for €33m but spent most of his first season on the sidelines after suffering a meniscus injury in July then a knee injury in December.
That saw the 24-year-old miss 35 games for Brentford in total, and over 250 days out of action. He, though, refused to give in.
The Brazilian returned to fitness this season and has been a revelation. To date, he’s managed 24 goals and one assists in 34 games in all competitions. 21 of those have come in the Premier League.
He’s already the top scoring Brazilian in a single Premier League season and just one goal behind Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden boot. He currently beats Haaland’s goal conversion percentage as well.
It’s a situation few would have seen coming. Thiago is one of them, admitting he didn’t see himself competing with the Manchester City striker.
“It’s something that makes me very happy; not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be experiencing this so soon, at just 24 years old, competing against a player like Haaland,” he said.
“It’s something special for me. It fills me with immense pride to be contending for this Golden Boot alongside him. He’s a guy I learn a lot from just by watching him play.
“Simply by observing him, I try to absorb as much as possible, his movements and the opportunities he capitalizes on.
“So, he’s someone who serves as an inspiration to me as a player as well. I’m very happy to be contending for this top-scorer title alongside him.”
God to thank
The Brazilian striker doesn’t have to look far to know who to thank for his current rise. He’s putting his faith in God, without question.
And he’s going to keep his faith right where it is, so he can continue competing with stars like the Manchester City striker.
“I’m going to say it again, because it still feels surreal to me, and because it’s something that has truly transformed my life: without question, the fundamental key to it all is God, it is Jesus, it is my family,” he added.
“It is inextricably linked to my faith, to having the absolute certainty that everything in my life unfolds exactly as God has ordained for me. So, I believe that has been one of the biggest factors.
“Another key element—one that has also shifted my mindset, is the realization that, on my own, I am not enough; it is God who has granted me this strength, and God who has bestowed upon me the ability to accomplish everything I am doing this season.
“So, I hope to be able to continue doing more and more of this. To be able to hold my own alongside the greats, names like Haaland, is truly a sensational feeling for me.”
Brazil World Cup dream
Domestic success isn’t the only success that’s come Igor Thiago’s way either. He’s now a fully fledged member of the Brazilian national team.
With 21 goals in the Premier League this season, it would have been hard for Carlo Ancelotti to ignore the striker this season.
Thus, he called him up for the last international break, handing him his debut from the bench in the 2-1 loss to France. A second cap soon followed in the 3-1 win over Croatia, and a first goal to boot.
They were both major milestones to add to a season full of them. But Thiago is happy to admit the reality. He discovered his call-up while hiding in a toilet before a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“It was a whirlwind of emotions, because I was actually on my way to the stadium, we were due to play against Wolves that day, on a Monday,” he concluded.
“On the way to the match, just as I arrived at the stadium, I realized the squad announcement was coming up any moment. I sprinted off, straight to the restroom so I could watch it live! That’s where I watched the squad list being revealed. It was just a hilarious experience.
“It was somewhat surreal, a mix of emotions I had never experienced before. I had to rein in my excitement a little because I was on my way to a match. I was about to play. But, thank God, everything worked out. I was able to make the squad and score a goal for my country.”