Igor Thiago's breakthrough 2025/26 campaign saw him become a Premier League sensation, but his current season has taken a markedly different trajectory. According to Sky Sports, the Brazilian striker has managed just one goal and one assist through seven matches in 2026/27, a stark contrast to his record-breaking previous season.
Last term proved transformative for Thiago after a difficult first campaign blighted by knee injuries. He featured in all but one of Brentford's league fixtures and netted 22 goals—a record for any Brazilian player in a single Premier League season. Sky Sports notes that finding a Brentford player with a comparable tally requires looking back 88 years into the club's top-flight history.
World Cup struggles and early season setbacks
Thiago's difficulties this season may trace back to his involvement in Brazil's 2026 World Cup campaign. He earned an unexpected starting berth in the opening fixture against Morocco, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti backing his selection.
For this game, Igor is strong up front, he's aggressive, he can fight for the ball in the air. I believe Igor can be good for the team in this game,Ancelotti said before the match.
The striker's performance at the MetLife Stadium proved disappointing. After just 13 minutes, Vinicius Junior delivered a pinpoint cross from the left, but Thiago mistimed his jump and made minimal contact. Sky Sports' Lewis Jones observed during the broadcast that
It's not working for Thiago up top. He's missed a big chance and his hold-up play has been very stodgy.Early in the second half, a fierce long-range effort was turned away by goalkeeper Yassine Bono. At the 62-minute mark, he was withdrawn in favour of Zenit Saint Petersburg winger Luiz Henrique and did not feature again in the tournament.
Back in the Premier League, Thiago's struggles continued from the outset. On opening weekend against Tottenham, with Brentford already leading 3-0, he was awarded a penalty after Rodrigo Bentancur fouled Kevin Schade. His stuttering run-up proved costly—despite goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky diving the wrong way, the ball struck the base of the left-hand post. Thiago's visible frustration told the story.
After four matches, his expected goals total stood at 2.41, yet he remained goalless. A drought that had begun at the end of 2025/26 stretched to seven games before finally ending on September 18. He reacted quickest to Schade's saved shot to make it 2-0 against Chelsea, seemingly providing the perfect moment to break his curse before the international break.
Inconsistency and missed opportunities
The relief proved short-lived. In the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on October 10, 2026, Thiago managed just one shot despite creating three chances. Against Liverpool, he provided the assist for Keane Lewis-Potter's opener but squandered a golden opportunity to earn a point. After Jaidon Sancho's lightning run found him in space, Thiago could not apply the finishing touch from close range.
In Brentford's subsequent 2–1 loss to Liverpool on October 17, 2026, Thiago had three shots, none on target, and was booked in the 46th minute, adding to his frustration.
The statistical picture reveals a puzzling paradox. Compared to the equivalent stage last season, Thiago is taking roughly three additional touches in the opposition box per game and attempting more shots overall. Yet his conversion rate has collapsed. His expected goals figure is higher, but after seven games in 2025/26 he had scored four times—compared to just one in 2026/27.
Manager backs striker despite goal drought
Keith Andrews has publicly expressed confidence in his striker despite the barren run. Following the Liverpool defeat, the Brentford head coach addressed Thiago's form in his post-match press conference.
He's fine. I don't sense anything around his demeanour, whether it's in training, the calmness he has in front of goal,Andrews said.
The manager highlighted the tactical context surrounding Thiago's struggles.
He's a marked man, for obvious reasons. He's getting some really close attention from the opposition players. We've had nine different goalscorers and what that is doing is creating more space for other players to exploit, which we have done. Thiago being Thiago, he wants to score more goals. That's only natural. But his overall performances have been really good so I'm not really worried.
Earlier in September, Andrews had reinforced his faith in the Brazilian.
We value him so much as a player, not just because of his goals. He's in a good place and he's enjoying his football. He loves being here and we love having him here.
Brentford thriving despite Thiago's drought
The broader context suggests Andrews' measured approach is justified. Brentford are not suffering as a collective despite their star striker's lack of goals. Last season, Thiago accounted for 22 of the club's 53 Premier League goals, with 11 other players contributing 31 between them as the Bees finished ninth. This term presents a markedly different picture.
Through seven games in 2026/27, Brentford have scored 13 goals, with 12 of those coming from eight different players excluding Thiago. The club currently sits sixth in the table, with only Brighton (23 goals), Manchester City (19) and Chelsea (17) having scored more. This distributed attacking threat has become a defining feature of Andrews' squad.
Beyond the scoreline, Thiago continues to deliver across multiple dimensions. He applies more high pressure than any teammate and wins numerous duels. Only Vitaly Janelt (83.16km) and Kristoffer Ajer (74.66km) have covered greater distances than his 72.7km—evidence of his tireless work ethic regardless of finishing fortunes.
Dropping Thiago for his goal tally would risk dismantling the momentum Brentford are clearly building. Given the club's well-documented reliance on data analytics, the numbers likely support persisting with a player whose all-round contributions remain substantial. If his performance levels remain consistent, the goals should follow.
Transfer interest and future prospects
Thiago's current form has not dampened external interest in his services. Reports indicate that Aston Villa, Tottenham and Atlético Madrid are among clubs interested in Thiago, while Nottingham Forest's reported €70 million summer bid is described as a benchmark; Brentford reportedly value him at €80–90 million. Despite his current struggles, his market value reflects the exceptional 2025/26 season when he scored 25 goals across all competitions, including 22 in the Premier League, and made 40 appearances overall.
What comes next
Brentford will travel to the MKM Stadium to face Hull City on October 25, 2026, in what represents another opportunity for Thiago to rediscover his scoring touch. The fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf from 12.30pm, with kick-off at 2pm. Whether this encounter proves the catalyst for his resurgence remains to be seen, but the underlying evidence suggests it is merely a matter of time before the Brazilian returns to the form that made him a Premier League sensation.
