_(cropped).jpg) Thiago with Brentford in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues | ||
| Date of birth | 26 June 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Gama, Federal District, Brazil[1] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2][3] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Brentford | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Gremio Ocidental | |||
| –2019 | Verê | ||
| 2019–2020 | Cruzeiro | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Cruzeiro | 60 | (9) |
| 2022 | Ludogorets Razgrad II | 4 | (3) |
| 2022–2023 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 34 | (16) |
| 2023–2024 | Club Brugge | 34 | (18) |
| 2024– | Brentford | 37 | (18) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:06, 3 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (born 26 June 2001), known simply as Igor Thiago, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Brentford.
Early life
Born in Gama, administrative region of Brasília, Thiago was 13 years old when he lost his father, and supported his street-cleaner mother María Diva by working in construction as a bricklayer, odd-jobbing at fairs, and by handing out flyers.[4][5]
He did not consider a career in football, but began playing at Gremio Ocidental, where his brother was already a player. He started playing futsal and had trials at several teams before joining the under-17 team of Verê, from the interior of Paraná, when he was sixteen. He later joined Cruzeiro's academy in 2019.[6][7]
Club career
Cruzeiro
On 22 January 2020, Thiago made his professional debut as an 18-year-old when he started for Cruzeiro in their Campeonato Mineiro match against Boa Esporte.[8]
During his three years with the club, Thiago scored 10 goals in 64 appearances.[9]
Ludogorets Razgrad
After a series of rumours, on 2 March 2022, Thiago finally signed with the Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad.[10] He joined Ludogorets II in order to adapt to the Bulgarian league and made his debut on 18 April in a league match against Litex Lovech, scoring his first goal.[11] A week later, he scored a brace in a 3–2 away defeat against Dobrudzha Dobrich.[12]
Thiago's good start for the second team granted him a call-up to the first team where he made his debut in a league match against CSKA Sofia, coming on as a substitute and marking his debut for the first team with a goal.[13]
With Ludogorets, Thiago won back-to-back Bulgarian First League titles for 2021–22 and 2022–23, as well as the 2023 Bulgarian Cup and 2022 Bulgarian Supercup, contributing to the club's success with 21 goals in 55 games.[citation needed]
Club Brugge
On 12 June 2023, Thiago signed for Belgian Pro League club Club Brugge on a four-year contract.[14] The €7.9 million fee received by Ludogorets was a record for a Bulgarian club.[15]
Having started in a 3–0 win over Aarhus in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers on 27 July 2023, Thiago scored in his first two league games for Club Brugge, a late equaliser to earn a 1–1 draw against Mechelen,[16] then netting the only goal in a 1–0 win at Westerlo to put the club near the top of the table early in the season.[17]
Scoring the opening goal in a 4–2 win over Charleroi on 16 September 2023 saw him reach six goals in all competitions,[18] but Thiago didn't score in Club's next nine games, finally breaking his duck in a 6–0 Belgian Cup victory at Beerschot on 1 November.[19] However, there were no more league goals until December of that year.
Netting a double in a 5–0 away win over Beşiktaş in the Conference League sparked a major goalscoring run from the Brazilian striker,[20] going on to fire 18 goals in his next 12 games across December 2023 and January 2024. Thiago was only shut out in one of those matches, against Mechelen where a header he scored was erroneously ruled out for offside.[21][22] After that blank, Thiago scored in his next eight games.[23]
Brentford
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On 14 February 2024, Premier League club Brentford announced an agreement for the signing of Thiago on a five-year deal, which would come into effect on 1 July.[24] The fee was undisclosed by the club, but reported to be in the region of a club-record £30 million.[25] In Belgian terms, this was a new Pro League record sale of €38 million.[26]
On 20 July 2024, Thiago suffered a meniscus injury on his Brentford debut in a pre-season friendly, and was subsequently expected to be out of action for the remainder of the year.[27] However, on 23 November, Thiago made his first appearance for the club against Everton, when he replaced Yoane Wissa in the 72nd minute.[28] Despite the brief return, he missed most of the remainder of the 2024–25 season, only making his return on 4 May 2025 in Brentford's 4–3 home victory against Manchester United in the league.[29]
On 17 August 2025, Thiago scored his first goal for Brentford in a 3–1 away defeat against Nottingham Forest in the club's opening game of the 2025–26 season.[30] On 27 September, Thiago scored a first half double in a 3–1 victory against Manchester United.[31] In November that year, he won the Premier League Player of the Month after, having scored five goals in four matches for his club.[32]
He scored his first hat-trick for the Bees in a 4–2 away win at Everton on 4 January 2026.[33] Three days later, a brace against Sunderland in a 3–0 victory for Brentford brought Thiago's season tally to 16 goals, making him the highest-scoring Brazilian player in a single Premier League season.[34] When questioned by Jonathan Pearce, Brentford manager Keith Andrews spoke about how Thiago has "earned his journey; he's had to graft" in his footballing career.[35]
International career
Born in Brazil, Thiago received a Bulgarian passport in 2023, which made him available to play for Bulgaria, subject to a five-year residency requirement, in addition to the Brazil national team.[36][37] In January 2024 he received a call-up for Brazil U23, but declined it reportedly to keep his international options open, despite the fact he said it would be a dream to represent Brazil on international level.[38]
Career statistics
- As of match played 3 March 2026[39]
| Club | Season | League | State league[a] | National cup[b] | League cup[c] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cruzeiro | 2020 | Série B | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||
| 2021 | Série B | 25 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 4 | ||||
| 2022 | Série B | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 43 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 64 | 10 | |||||
| Ludogorets Razgrad II | 2021–22 | Bulgarian Second League | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | |||||
| Ludogorets Razgrad | 2021–22 | Bulgarian First League | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 3 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23 | Bulgarian First League | 32 | 15 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 15[e] | 4 | — | 52 | 20 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 16 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 21 | ||||
| Club Brugge | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 18 | — | 5 | 4 | — | 16[f] | 7 | — | 55 | 29 | |||
| Brentford | 2024–25 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 29 | 18 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 19 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 18 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 19 | |||||
| Career total | 152 | 59 | 17 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 216 | 82 | ||
- ^ Includes Campeonato Mineiro
- ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Bulgarian Cup, Belgian Cup, FA Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup
- ^ Appearance in Bulgarian Supercup
- ^ Five appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
Honours
Ludogorets Razgrad
Club Brugge
Individual
- UEFA Europa Conference League Young Player of the Season: 2023–24[40]
- Premier League Player of the Month: November 2025,[41] January 2026[42]
References
- ^ Costa, Maic (29 August 2023). "Ex-Cruzeiro, Thiago superou infância difícil e hoje brilha na Europa". Trivela (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Igor Thiago". Brentford. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Igor Thiago: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "Igor Thiago, la primera venta de Ronaldo en Cruzeiro, destaca en el rival de Osasuna en la Conference". Marca (in Spanish). 30 August 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Igor Thiago: Brentford striker is making up for lost time after scoring two against Manchester United". BBC Sport. 27 September 2025.
- ^ "Igor Thiago: Who is the Club Brugge striker heading to the Premier League as Brentford's possible Ivan Toney replacement?". Sky Sports. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Harris, Jay (1 March 2024). "Who is Igor Thiago? How long have Brentford tracked him? Is he Ivan Toney's replacement?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ^ "Cruzeiro vs. Boa 2 – 0". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Ex-Cruzeiro, Thiago superou infância difícil e hoje brilha na Europa" [Former Cruzeiro player Thiago overcame a difficult childhood and now shines in Europe]. Trivela (in Portuguese). 29 August 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Тиаго и Групер: Идваме в голям клуб" (in Bulgarian). PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Лудогорец II загуби с 1:2 от Литекс (Ловеч)" (in Bulgarian). PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Два гола на нов не спомогнаха на Лудогорец 2, Добруджа с витален успех". Gong.bg (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Лудогорец с шампионска победа над ЦСКА-София" (in Bulgarian). PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Igor Thiago moves to Club Brugge". Club Brugge KV. 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Лудогорец реализира рекорден трансфер" (in Bulgarian). PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Club Brugge laat meteen punten liggen tegen KV Mechelen, dat vloekt op de VAR én 1–2 laat liggen (Club Brugge immediately drops points against KV Mechelen, who criticise VAR and misses 2–1 win)". Sporza (in Dutch). 30 July 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Dominant Club Brugge bibbert in slot naar eerste seizoenszege op bezoek bij Westerlo (Dominant Club Brugge finally staggers towards its first victory of season at Westerlo)". Sporza (in Dutch). 6 August 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Wonderboy Antonio Nusa schenkt Club Brugge ultiem de overwinning na kat-en-muisspelletje met Charleroi (Wonderboy Antonio Nusa gives Club Brugge ultimate victory after cat-and-mouse game with Charleroi)". Sporza (in Dutch). 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Club Brugge bezorgt het Kiel een horroravond en smeert Beerschot een 0-6-pandoering aan (Club Brugge gives Kiel a horror evening and Beerschot a 6–0 pounding)". Sporza (in Dutch). 1 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Club Brugge speelt een absolute referentiematch en smeert Besiktas forfaitscore aan (A milestone match for Club Brugge, beating Besiktas by a forfeit score)". Sporza (in Dutch). 30 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Zegereeks Club Brugge wordt afgebroken door stug KV Mechelen (Club Brugge's winning streak is interrupted by tough KV Mechelen)". Sporza (in Dutch). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "KIJK. "Match wordt niet herspeeld": Referee Department licht blunder bij goal Thiago toe, Van Damme voorlopig geen VAR meer (WATCH. "Match will not be replayed": Referee Department explains blunder at Thiago goal, Van Damme no longer VAR for the time being)". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 11 December 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Plots is de twijfelspits de strafste van Europa: hoe valt de transformatie van Igor Thiago te verklaren? (Suddenly the peak of doubt is the strongest in Europe: how can Igor Thiago's transformation be explained?)". Sporza (in Dutch). 23 January 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Brentford Sign Forward Igor Thiago". Brentford FC. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Brentford announce £30m signing of Club Brugge striker Igor Thiago". The Guardian. 14 February 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Het verhaal achter de (stiekeme) recordtransfer van Igor Thiago: "Zelfs Fabrizio Romano wist dit niet"" [The story behind Igor Thiago's (secret) record transfer: "Even Fabrizio Romano didn't know this"]. Sporza (in Dutch). 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Brentford signing Thiago out until end of year". BBC Sport. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Hafez, Shamoon (23 November 2024). "Everton 0–0 Brentford: Toffees held to goalless draw by 10-man visitors". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "'He will not start': Frank provides injury update before Brentford's trip to Ipswich". Brentford F.C. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Nottingham Forest 3 Brentford 1: Thiago on target in opening day defeat". Brentford F.C. 17 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Igor Thiago: Brentford striker is making up for lost time after scoring two against Manchester United". BBC Sport. 27 September 2025.
- ^ "Thiago wins Premier League Player of the Month". Brentford F.C. 12 December 2025.
- ^ Rajan, Adwaidh (4 January 2026). "Everton 2–4 Brentford: Igor Thiago hat-trick helps the Bees ease past the hosts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ "Thiago sets record for goals from a Brazilian in a single season". Premier League. 7 January 2026.
- ^ ""Match of the Day: 07/01/2026"". Match of the Day: 2025/26. 7 January 2026. BBC.
- ^ "В Белгия: Тиаго може да е от изключителна полза за България". Gong.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Гласят сензацията Игор Тиаго за национал на България". Gol (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Игор Тиаго получи повиквателна от Бразилия и я отказа". Gong.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Igor Thiago at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ "Club Brugge's Thiago named 2023/24 Europa Conference League Young Player of the Season". UEFA.com. UEFA. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Thiago wins his first EA SPORTS Player of the Month award". Premier League. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ "Thiago makes history after winning EA SPORTS Player of the Month award". Premier League. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
External links
- Profile at the Brentford F.C. website
- Igor Thiago at Soccerway
- 2001 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Pará
- Brazilian men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Cruzeiro EC players
- PFC Ludogorets Razgrad II players
- PFC Ludogorets Razgrad players
- Club Brugge KV players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players
- First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players
- Belgian Pro League players
- Premier League players
- Brazilian expatriate men's footballers
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Expatriate men's footballers in Bulgaria
- Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Brazilian bricklayers
- 21st-century Brazilian sportsmen
