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Welcome back to the Football For Kids podcast with Darren Rees, now proudly entering its fourth year of football stories, big dreams and proper journeys.
In this episode, we tell the remarkable life story of Igor Thiago, the Brentford goal machine who, at the time of recording, sits as the second highest goalscorer in the Premier League. And this is not a tale that starts with flash boots or fancy academies. It begins with neighbourhood football in Brazil, jumper goalposts, hard work, and a quiet belief that refused to go away.
Born in Gama, just outside Brasília, Thiago grew up in a working family where nothing was handed out for free. Football was joy, not a plan. Until one night, watching the Premier League on television, something sparked. A young Thiago saw Cristiano Ronaldo flying down the wing for Manchester United and thought, maybe, just maybe, that could be him one day.
Life soon tested that dream. When Thiago was just 13, his father passed away. Overnight, childhood changed. He worked jobs from the age of 11, clearing weeds, carrying shopping, mixing cement, running long distances after work, all while going to school and training. Before he was a striker, he was a worker. Before he scored goals, he learned how to keep going.
This episode follows Thiago’s slow and stubborn rise through futsal, local Brazilian clubs, and a brave move away from home to chase football properly. From Cruzeiro in Brazil to freezing winters in Bulgaria, from record breaking nights with Club Brugge to a club record move to Brentford, his journey is packed with setbacks, injuries, patience and belief.
You will hear how Thiago fought through serious knee injuries, waited for his chance in England, then exploded onto the Premier League stage with goals, records and a Player of the Month award. From carrying bricks to carrying a football team, this is a story about resilience, timing, and trusting your path.
Perfect for kids, families, young footballers and anyone who loves a proper underdog story, this episode shows that greatness does not care where you start. Sometimes the longest journeys create the strongest people.
So whether you are listening in the car, at home, or on the way to football training, this is one story you will not forget. And if you know someone who loves football just as much as you do, pass it on. See you next time.
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