The 2026 World Cup is on the horizon, and Igor Thiago's record-breaking brace in Brentford's 3–1 win over Burnley last weekend has pushed his dream of representing Brazil next summer a step closer.
Thiago's quick-fire double against Scott Parker's spirited Clarets saw him outpace his predecessor Ivan Toney to become the fastest Brentford player to reach 10+ Premier League goals in a season. The 24-year-old's penalty on his 13th appearance of the season saw him beat the 15-game benchmark previously set by Toney back in 2022/23.
A pulsating finale at Gtech Community Stadium saw all four goals arrive after the 80th minute. Thiago converted a cool penalty to break the deadlock, only for the visitors to level within minutes through a spot-kick of their own from Zian Flemming.
A wonderful curling cross from Jordan Henderson broke for Thiago to restore Brentford's lead on 86 minutes, before Dango Ouattara's sharp finish in added time secured a "hard-earned" victory, which catapulted Keith Andrews' side into the top half of the table.
Now with 12 goals to his name in all competitions this season, Thiago will deservedly hog the headlines.
The former Club Brugge and Ludogorets striker has consigned an injury-plagued first season in west London to the distant past, and the sky-high standard of his performances, allied to his scintillating 2025/26 stats, mean he must be on Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti's radar.
Only three Brazilian strikers in history have ever managed to score 15 goals in a Premier League season, and Thiago looks odds-on to join them.
Roberto Firmino (in 2017/18), Gabriel Martinelli (in 2022/23) and Matheus Cunha (last season) have all hit 15 goals apiece in the English top flight but, with 25 games remaining in the current campaign, Brentford's Brazilian hotshot will fancy his chances of raising that particular bar.
With six more goals than any other Brazilian in UEFA's top five leagues, Thiago's blistering form places him firmly among the world's elite strikers at the moment.
In fact, across the five leagues with the best UEFA coefficients, only three players have outscored Thiago this term: Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, and Manchester City's Erling Haaland (all with 14 goals).
Thiago may play with a smile and a dash of samba, but there has been a cold efficiency to his finishing.
Composed but quick to pull the trigger when a chance presents itself - as evidenced by his roofed left-footed strike against the Clarets on Saturday - Brentford's attacking spearhead boasts a shot conversion rate of 34 per cent in the Premier League this season, with over one in three of his attempts finding the net.
Thiago's current influence in TW8 is there for all to see, and no player has scored a higher percentage of their team's goals (52 per cent) in the Premier League this season.
With his ability to score goals in the English top tier no longer in doubt, Thiago will look to maintain his standards and prove to himself - and Ancelotti - that he can consistently do the business against the best.