Igor Thiago: The Brazilian Bricklayer Who Made Premier League History

Igor Thiago netted twice in Brentford's draw against Everton, making Premier League history. These two goals brought his tally against Everton this season to five, having previously scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

The 24-year-old has etched his name into Premier League history, becoming the first Brazilian to score 20 or more goals in a single season. This achievement surpasses the likes of Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus, who have both left their mark on the English top flight.

Born on June 26, 2001, Igor Thiago faced hardship early in life. After losing his father at 13, he worked as either a bricklayer or a fruit vendor to support his mother financially. Football wasn't initially on his radar, but he began playing for Grêmio, where his brother was already involved.

After a stint at Cruzeiro, he made the move to Europe in March 2022, joining Ludogorets. He initially played for their second team before being promoted to the first, where his talent began to shine. With 55 appearances, 21 goals, and eleven assists across all competitions, Club Brugge took notice and signed him.

Thiago spent just one year at Club Brugge but was a prolific scorer. He found the net in his first two Belgian league matches and went on to score a total of 27 goals in that single season. This impressive tally earned him a spot in the 2023-24 Belgian league's best XI, a season in which Brugge clinched the title.

In July 2024, the Brazilian joined Brentford, a significant step in his career. However, he suffered an unfortunate injury early in the season, tearing his meniscus during his unofficial debut. Specifically, on July 20, in a pre-season friendly for the Bees, he sustained a severe knee injury. Doctors initially expected him to miss the entire season, but he returned in November for just four games before suffering a relapse, keeping him sidelined until May 2025.

The 2025-26 season, however, proved to be entirely different for him. On August 17, he scored his first goal for the London club in Brentford's match against Nottingham Forest. The Brazilian's form since then has been nothing short of a dream, as he netted 18 more times by April 11, when he scored his 20th goal against Everton, becoming the first Brazilian in Premier League history to achieve this feat.

On March 26, he also made his unofficial debut for the Brazilian national team in a 1-2 friendly loss to France. Nevertheless, he managed to score in the second friendly, a 3-1 victory against Croatia. It's worth noting that he also holds a Bulgarian passport from his time playing for Ludogorets.