Igor Thiago breaks Brazilian record with 16 goals and chases Haaland in the Premier League artillery

Igor Thiago, 24-year-old Brazilian striker, reached the mark of 16 goals in the 2025/26 season of Ele became the Brasil player with the most goals in a single edition of the English competition. The feat occurred during Brentford’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland, in the 21st round, held on January 7, 2026, at the London club’s stadium.

The player is chasing the Norwegian Erling Haaland, from Manchester City, who leads the artillery with 20 goals. Thiago surpassed the previous mark of 15 goals, shared by Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha in past seasons.

Born in Gama, in Distrito Federal, Igor Thiago started his career in the youth teams of smaller clubs in Paraná before arriving at Sua trajectory at Europa gained prominence after stints in leagues considered less competitive, where he demonstrated high finishing power.

• It started in Verê, in the interior of Paraná.
• He transferred to Cruzeiro while still under-20.
• He turned professional in 2020 and competed in the Série B.

A history-making night for Igor Thiago, and he has 17 matches left to extend his record!pic.twitter.com/NSyAY5YEpJ

—Premier League (@premierleague)January 7, 2026

Discrete onsets at Cruzeiro

Igor Thiago played 64 games for Cruzeiro between 2020 and 2022, scoring 10 goals and providing two assists. The performance did not draw immediate attention at Brasil, leading to the sale to Ludogorets, from Bulgária, for around R$3.6 million in March 2022. Essa negotiation marked the first sale of the Minas Gerais club in the SAF era.

In Bulgarian football, the striker adapted quickly and raised his level of performance. Ele won national titles and caught the attention of bigger clubs in Europa with impressive numbers of goals.

Explosion at Bulgária and Bélgica

For Ludogorets, Igor Thiago played 53 games in the full 2022/23 season, scoring 20 goals and seven assists. The club won the national championship and other domestic trophies during his tenure. The performance resulted in a transfer to Club Brugge, from Bélgica, for a value close to 11 million euros.

In the Campeonato Belga of 2023/24, the Brazilian repeated his success by becoming national champion again. Ele scored 29 goals and provided six assists in 55 games, consolidating himself as an offensive reference. Esses numbers attracted attention from more competitive leagues, culminating in the change to Inglaterra.

Club Brugge received around R$212 million for the sale to Brentford in July 2024. The transfer represented a significant financial leap in relation to the initial amounts paid by Cruzeiro.

Challenges with injuries in Brentford

Arriving at Brentford came with great expectations, especially after the departure of top scorer Ivan Toney to Saudi football. However, a meniscus injury suffered in a pre-season friendly on July 20, 2024, sidelined Igor Thiago for months. Ele officially debuted only in November of that year.

Another knee injury interrupted his rhythm again, limiting him to just a few minutes in the final rounds of the 2024/25 season. The striker played just eight games without scoring goals in his initial campaign in the Premier League.

With a full pre-season in 2025, Igor Thiago has recovered his physical and technical shape. Ele established himself as the starter and main scoring reference for the London team.

Consolidation as vice-top scorer

In the current season, Igor Thiago has scored 16 goals in 21 rounds of Premier League until January 2026. Brentford occupies high positions in the table, benefiting from the attacker’s contributions.

The Brazilian received the best player of the month award for November in the English league. Essa distinction marked the first time for an athlete from the club.

• Goals against teams like Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Liverpool.
• Contributions in important victories that keep the team competitive.
• Assists and participation in collective plays.

Detailed European trajectory figures

Igor Thiago demonstrated steady progression in goals per season at Europa. Na Bulgária, achieved an average of more than one goal every three games. Na Bélgica, improved to almost a goal per game on average.

In Brentford, he exceeded initial expectations despite physical adversities. Sua height of 1.91m and strength in the air complement his precise finishing inside the area.

Current position in the competition

Brentford is among the first placed in Premier League thanks to the collective and individual performance of Igor Thiago. The team won key matches in the initial return, positioning itself above traditional clubs at times.

The striker credits part of his success to the style of play adopted by the coach, who favors quick transitions and aerial balls. Sua adaptation to English football occurred quickly after full recovery from injuries.

Featured in individual awards

Igor Thiago won the player of the month award for November 2025, scoring five goals in four matches during that period. The honor reinforced its importance for Brentford and increased international visibility.

Other Brazilians in the league are watching the performance closely, as the record surpassed involved established names like Firmino and Martinelli.

The striker remains focused on maintaining physical regularity and contributing to the club’s goals this season.