From Fruit Vendor to 2026 World Cup: Igor Thiago's Meteoric Rise

Igor Thiago, the striker currently shining in the Premier League with Brentford, has been called up by Carlo Ancelotti to represent Brazil in the World Cup, set to kick off on June 11th. The forward's journey, from humble beginnings in Gama, a satellite city of Brasília, to the grand stages of world football, is a testament to overcoming adversity and relentless hard work.

Igor took his first steps in football at Grêmio Ocidental, a social project in Cidade Ocidental, but the athlete's sporting career was far from an easy path. After his father's death when he was just 13, the young man had to juggle training with various jobs to help support his family, working as a bricklayer, a street vendor selling fruit, and a flyer distributor.

"When I was a kid, I worked at the market, I've worked as a flyer distributor, washing cars... I was also a bricklayer's assistant. I had several jobs, and I think those jobs helped me become the man I am today, to shape my character, to value the things in life, the simple things in life, and to know how to enjoy every moment," he recalled in an interview with CBF TV.

The striker's potential was discovered by former player Tico, who recommended him to Verê, a club in Paraná's interior, after an unsuccessful attempt to join Athletico Paranaense's youth ranks. The distance from his family and financial difficulties were constant obstacles, but the motivation to provide a better life for his mother and brother kept him focused.

At Verê, Igor Thiago's talent began to stand out. In 2018, he was the team's top scorer with 13 goals, leading them to win the Paraná U-17 Championship. His stellar performances attracted the interest of Cruzeiro, where he signed his first professional contract. However, his spell at the Belo Horizonte club was a period of significant learning and frustration.

"At Cruzeiro, it was a process where I had to learn a lot about dealing with opinions, criticism, and praise. It was mental growth. I wasn't psychologically well. (...) They put a different kind of pressure on me. The club needed that goal-scoring forward. There was a lack of patience, an understanding that I needed time to adapt," he explained.

Due to the Belo Horizonte club's financial crisis, the forward was sold to Ludogorets, in Bulgaria, for approximately 1.3 million euros. The Brazilian's European career continued with a stint at Club Brugge before his transfer to Brentford in 2024 for a fee around 33 million euros.

His emergence in the Premier League, where in his second season he has already netted 22 goals, placing him second only to Erling Haaland (26), was crucial for his national team call-up. His first opportunity to wear the Brazil jersey, where he now has two caps and one goal, came precisely in the run-up to the World Cup.