Brentford star Igor Thiago breaks Premier League record with 17 matches to spare

Jan 7, 2026 - 21:45

Igor Thiago has racked up his 16th Premier League goal – the most by a Brazilian in a single season.

The 24-year-old was on target twice for Brentford during their clash against Sunderland at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday night.

Igor Thiago scores for Brentford against Sunderland — Thiago showed great composure by rounding Robin Roefs in the first half

Igor Thiago goal for Brentford — Thiago then got his second just after the hour, breaking a record in the process

Thiago broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark after being played in by Vitaly Janelt.

He then proceeded to round goalkeeper Robin Roefs, before coolly slotting home into an empty net.

Thiago then got his record-breaking second by nodding home a cross from the left after Kevin Schade hit the crossbar from six yards out second before.

His goals come just days after his hat-trick on the road in the stunning 4-1 win at Everton.

Historic

The strikes have etched Thiago’s name in history by becoming the fourth Brazilian to fire in 16 goals in a single campaign.

Thiago has done so in record time – scoring 16 times in just 21 outings.

The only previous players to have previously found the back of the net on 15 occasions in the Premier League are Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha.

Firmimo racked up as many goals for Liverpool in the 2017/18 campaign.

Martinelli‘s haul meanwhile came in the 2022/23 term for Arsenal to help the Gunners to second spot.

As for Cunha, he recorded the number last season for Wolves, which earned him a £62.5million move to Manchester United.

Brentford striker Igor Thiago celebrates goal against Sunderland — One more strike and Thiago is the best goalscoring Brazilian in Premier League history

Only Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals than former Club Brugge marksman Thiago this campaign.

His 29 goals for the Belgian giants in the 2023/24 season saw Brentford snap him up for a club-record £30m.

But his first season in west London proved to be a frustrating one having suffered a meniscus injury on his debut in pre-season against AFC Wimbledon.

He didn’t make his official debut until November, in what turned out to be a stop-start first year in England.

In total, Thiago was limited to just eight Premier League matches following a further knee injury, with the player failing to find the back of the net.

But he is a striker transformed this term, with his form seeing him be in contention to be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil World Cup squad.