Igor Thiago will reach Copa from Mundo in Estados Unidos as one of the Carlo Ancelotti coach’s bets for Seleção Brasileira. The Brentford attacker, born in Brasília, has a path of overcoming that began far from the field: as a fruit seller at fairs in the Gama region, Distrito Federal’s satellite city. Hoje, at 23 years old, is among the top scorers in Premier League, a competition in which he has scored 22 goals this season.
Igor Thiago’s story reveals the difficulties that marked his childhood. Filho of Maria Diva and brother of Maycon, began his football career with Grêmio Ocidental, a social project located in Cidade Ocidental, a municipality in Goiás surrounding Brasília. Entre training and matches, the young man needed to work to help support his family after his father’s death, when he was just 13 years old. Pedreiro, stallholder, delivery man, the boy accumulated professions while pursuing his dream of football.
The first steps in amateur football
Recognition of Igor Thiago started early, but not without difficulties. Foi is the former player Tico, who played for São Paulo, Athletico Paranaense and Coritiba, who identified potential in the young attacker while still at Grêmio Ocidental. Após failed a test for the youth categories of Athletico-PR, Igor Thiago was nominated for Verê, Paraná’s country club.
The distance from the family represented one of the biggest obstacles. The boy would leave home at 5 am to go to work, return around 2 or 3 pm and go straight to training and games. The money earned from their daily activities was divided between contributions to maternal support and spending on football. Determination kept him firm in the face of challenges.
Campeonato and projection on Verê
The trajectory in Verê marked the turning point in Igor Thiago’s career. In 2018, he won the team’s top score during Campeonato Paranaense Sub-17’s unprecedented title campaign, scoring 13 goals. Afterwards, in the Sub-20 category, he aroused the interest of Cruzeiro, where he signed his first professional contract. The young man could visualize his dream beginning to take shape, even if moments of frustration arose.
His time at Raposa was marked by psychological challenges. Igor Thiago needed to deal with demands from a club that was facing financial difficulties and demanded immediate results. Aos 17, 18 and 19 years old, received different pressure from that experienced by his colleagues. The institution expected the attacker to solve offensive problems without considering the natural adaptation process of a teenager away from home.
Sales abroad and success at Premier League
Amid Cruzeiro’s financial crisis, Raposa’s newly created SAF traded Igor Thiago. The Minas Gerais club received approximately R$7.4 million for the sale to Ludogorets, from Bulgária. The attacker briefly passed through Club Brugge before being sold to Brentford for around R$210 million in 2024.
Arriving at Premier League put Igor Thiago on Seleção Brasileira’s radar. In his second season for the London club, the striker established himself as a key player in the attack. With 22 goals, he ranks second in the competition, behind only Erling Haaland, who has 26 goals. The performance attracted the attention of Ancelotti, who called him up to join the Brazilian delegation.
Estreia and call for Copa
Às on the eve of Mundo’s Copa, Igor Thiago received its first opportunity with the main Seleção. Até currently participated in two official games, scoring one goal for Amarelinha. The call represents the realization of a dream that began at Brasília fairs and passed through amateur camps of Goiás and Paraná.
Ancelotti recognizes in Igor Thiago the type of versatile striker who can make a difference in elite competitions. The Italian coach will focus on the player’s development during the Copa, a competition that will take place on American soil. The journey of the Brasília player illustrates how determination, hard work and resilience can transform realities, converting stories of overcoming into opportunities on the biggest stages of world football.