Erling Haaland will go head-to-head with his main Golden Boot rival and self-confessed number one fan, Igor Thiago, when Manchester City host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. The Brazilian striker sits just three goals behind Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts, with 22 goals to the Norwegian's 25, and their duel could prove pivotal in the race for the top scorer award.
Thiago's Admiration for Haaland
Thiago, 24, has emerged as one of the season's most remarkable stories, his goals propelling Brentford into surprise contention for a Champions League place. Despite being more comfortable speaking through an interpreter in Portuguese, his enthusiasm for Haaland is so overwhelming that he breaks into English when discussing the Manchester City star.
“I really like him, I really like him,” Thiago said with emphasis. “I like him as a player because he has inspired me 100 per cent. I have learned so much from him during this season. His movement, his personality, I really like him as a person and as a person. I have watched him so much! I have seen clips of him in the changing room as well. He has huge quality and, for me, as a player he’s unbelievable. He does things on the pitch that I really, really like and I can get a lot from him.”
A Dream Come True
Thiago can barely believe he is competing with Haaland for the Golden Boot. “I have dreamed about it. I believed it could happen. But now it is here - and it’s incredible,” he said. “I’m really happy to be in this phase of my life, playing in the Premier League and competing against these kind of players.”
Born in Brazil as one of four siblings, Thiago credits his mother Maria Diva as his biggest inspiration. “She taught me if you give love, you get love back,” he said. He started playing street football at age eight, had trials at various clubs, and eventually joined Cruzeiro's academy before leaving for Ludogorets in Bulgaria four years ago.
Journey to the Premier League
How did a Brazilian kid end up in Bulgaria? “It’s a long story!” Thiago said with his trademark smile and deep laugh. “Once I got there, the experience was incredible. When I arrived there and during my time there, that was when I realised how strong my desire was to succeed, improve and get better and better. It was in Bulgaria where people began to see me, that was important for me to build up my confidence which really helped me improve and got me to Belgium then to get here which is where I always wanted to be.
“I always wanted to get to the Premier League. This was my main objective, my goal because it would help me prove to myself that God was working with me and within me. At that moment I realised that regardless of what was happening, God would find a way of bringing me to where I wanted to be, which is here: the Premier League.”
Overcoming Adversity
His faith guided him through tough times at Brentford, where a serious knee injury kept him out for nearly a year after his arrival in 2024. He says fish and chips is his favourite English meal. His remarkable goalscoring run earned him a first Brazil call-up in March. Such is his popularity around the club, it is little wonder playing in the Premier League was always his dream.
“The high quality, the teams, the players and the competition is the best and I wanted to be part of it,” Thiago said. “I think it’s a bit of everything - the level of the players, the tough competition and the physical side of the game. So many special and talented players are here.”
Brentford's Togetherness
Thiago has quickly developed a deep affection for Brentford. The sense of being underdogs clearly inspires the players. “In this club, this team, it’s about being together, a sense of family, togetherness and this feeling is inspirational for all the players especially because no-one really believes Brentford can be this good. But the sense of togetherness is our greatest strength. This is what inspires us because it’s an opportunity to achieve something for a club which loves us all back so much.”
