Igor Thiago: Brentford’s Brazilian Goal Machine
Igor Thiago: Brentford’s Brazilian Goal Machine Few would have predicted at the start of the season that Brentford’s Igor Thiago would be just one goal behind Erling Haaland heading into the business end of the season. The Brazilian has played 32 matches, scoring 21 goals, which gives him an impressive goal-per-90-minute ratio of 0. 69.
Thiago had never really been an out-and-out goalscorer when he first started out in Brazil. For example, before he headed to Europe to play for Ludogorets, he had scored just 10 goals in 64 appearances in Brazil. However, he was still a youngster growing into the team and was also playing second-tier football with Cruzeiro at the time.
He then moved to Ludogorets, where he enjoyed his first real stint as a regular in Europe during his second season, after spending much of his first campaign with the second team. As he developed further, his first full season as a starter in the first team was very impressive. In 52 matches, he scored 20 goals, demonstrating that his goal-scoring form had improved since his time in Brazil and putting him regularly in goal-scoring predictions on apps like bizbet and Sky Sports for those immersed in the lower leagues around Europe.
After two seasons in Bulgaria, he moved to Club Brugge in Belgium, where he once again impressed. In the 2023–2024 season, he played 55 matches, scoring 29 goals, with seven of those coming in European competition. This prompted Brentford to make him a club record signing for a fee of around £30 million.
His start to life in England didn’t go to plan after he picked up an injury in the pre-season of 2024. Thiago had to wait a while to return to action. He played eight matches in his first season for Brentford, missing the majority of the campaign.