Brazil’s Igor Thiago lost his father at 13, worked as a garbage collector and bricklayer, and vowed to lift his family out of poverty before earning his first World Cup call-up in 2026

Brazilian striker Igor Thiago’s journey from poverty in Brazil to Premier League stardom has been shaped by family sacrifice, personal loss and resilience. After a record-breaking season with Brentford earned him his first Brazil call-up, a difficult World Cup left him facing renewed scrutiny. Now, the 25-year-old is drawing strength from his wife and children as he looks to rebuild his form.