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Igor Thiago Surpasses Firmino and Martinelli to Rewrite Premier League History with Brentford

Igor Thiago’s rise from relative obscurity to Premier League history-maker has become one of the most compelling stories of the 2025–26 season. The Brentford striker has now established himself as the most prolific Brazilian goalscorer in a single Premier League campaign, overtaking the previous benchmarks set by Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli, and Matheus Cunha.

With 16 league goals already to his name, Thiago has gone beyond the 15-goal tallies recorded by Firmino during Liverpool’s 2017–18 campaign, Martinelli with Arsenal in 2022–23, and Cunha with Wolves last season. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, currently leading the scoring charts with 20 goals, has found the net more frequently in the division.

This remarkable output carries added significance given Thiago’s challenging introduction to English football. Signed for a club-record £30 million from Club Brugge after scoring 29 goals in Belgium during the 2023–24 season, expectations were cautious rather than exuberant. A meniscus injury sustained in pre-season delayed his debut until November 2024, and further knee issues limited him to just eight league appearances without a goal in his first year at the club.

Those early struggles now feel distant. Thiago announced his arrival emphatically this season, scoring on the opening weekend and maintaining relentless momentum ever since. His breakthrough moment came on January 4, when he struck a hat-trick in a 4–1 victory over Everton, followed three days later by a clinical brace in a 3–0 win against Sunderland. Those goals not only underlined his lethal finishing but also elevated him into uncharted historical territory for Brazilian players in England’s top flight.

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has openly admitted that even he did not foresee such an immediate and decisive impact. Speaking after the Sunderland match, Andrews praised Thiago’s mentality and all-round contribution, highlighting his selfless movement, physical presence, and tactical intelligence. For a player who has navigated leagues in Bulgaria and Belgium, followed by a year interrupted by injury, his adaptation to the Premier League has exceeded all internal expectations.

Thiago’s influence has become so central to Brentford’s ambitions that he was withdrawn late against Sunderland to protect him from potential injury, despite being on a hat-trick. Andrews described the decision as necessary, acknowledging the striker’s hunger while stressing his long-term importance to the club.

At just 24, Thiago’s trajectory now extends beyond domestic recognition. With Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti preparing long-term plans for the national team, the Brentford forward’s form has inevitably placed him on the World Cup radar. What began as a calculated gamble in the transfer market has evolved into one of the Premier League’s defining success stories of the season.

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