Brentford striker Igor Thiago has now spoken publicly about his rapid rise in the Premier League, his dream of playing for Brazil and the personal challenges he faced on the way to becoming one of the league’s top scorers.
In an interview with Globo Esporte, the 24-year-old admitted he is still surprised by how quickly his career has accelerated in England. Now in his second season with Brentford, Igor Thiago is the Premier League’s current top Brazilian scorer and sits second overall in the scoring charts, behind only Erling Haaland.
“Playing in the Premier League and competing with great players is something surreal and surprising for me,” Igor Thiago said. “I dreamed of building this kind of story, but I did not imagine it would happen so fast. This season has been extraordinary.”
Learning from Haaland and chasing growth
The Brentford forward revealed that competing directly with Haaland has become a source of motivation rather than pressure. He explained how closely he studies the Manchester City striker.
“Fighting with a guy like him makes me want to reach my highest level and push my development even further,” he said. “He is someone who pulls you up. It is very good to compete for the scoring title with him.”
Igor Thiago also recalled a brief conversation between the two players after Brentford faced Manchester City.
“In the game we played against City, I spoke to him and told him that he is one of my inspirations,” he explained. “Many of the things I have been doing, I learned by watching him play.”
Brazil call-up remains a lifelong dream
Having appeared on the preliminary squad list for Brazil in the last two international windows, Igor Thiago is now considered a strong candidate to make the final squad for the first time in March. For the striker, the idea of playing for another national team has never existed.
“There is no way I would wear any shirt other than Brazil’s,” he said. “If I do not wear Brazil’s shirt, I will not wear any other. It is the dream of my life and I hope one day to achieve it.”
He added that even being monitored by the national team staff already carries special meaning. “I am happy to have been on the pre-list, that they are following me. Just hearing my name mentioned there already makes me very happy.”
Confidence despite competition
Brazil’s attacking pool remains crowded, with players such as Richarlison, Igor Jesus, João Pedro and Matheus Cunha all capable of playing centrally. Others are also pushing for places. Igor Thiago, however, says competition does not intimidate him.
“All these centre-forwards performing well at their clubs show that we always have to maintain a high level,” he said. “I can adapt to different areas of the pitch. I am not a player who just fights and stays in the box.”
He highlighted his mobility as a key part of his game. “I also leave the box, I have that mobility to help build plays and run into space,” he explained. “Because of my size and physical profile, I also have speed. I can adapt to the team’s style of play. I have good hopes for the next call-up.”
Europe, injuries and personal recovery
Igor Thiago described the 2025/26 season as “fantastic”, but stressed that the path to this moment was far from simple. Since moving to Europe in 2022, he has had to adapt to different cultures, languages and footballing styles, first in Bulgaria and later in Belgium.
“In Bulgaria and Belgium, the speed of the game prepared me for the Premier League,” he said. “I tried to understand the game in a different way. Sometimes you only get one chance in a match and you have to be lethal.”
“The Premier League does not give you room for mistakes,” he added. “That process in Bulgaria and Belgium prepared this clinical side of my game.”
A serious knee injury also forced him to spend almost a year away from competitive football after joining Brentford. Looking back, the striker believes that difficult period played an important role in his growth.
“That process helped me understand the league,” he explained. “That almost one year out made me understand many things. How the game works, how the coach wanted me to play and the role he wanted from the centre-forward.”
“It was an important moment of my injury, both personally and professionally,” Igor Thiago continued. “It allowed me to regain the desire to play football and that joy again.”
Those reflections underline why the striker’s impact has been so immediate. Igor Thiago’s rise at Brentford has been fast, but it has been built on adaptation, resilience and a growing belief that his best football may still be ahead of him.