Of Igor Thiago’s 22 goals this season, 19 have come in the Premier League leaving him jut three behind leading scorer Erling Haaland.
And it is the Brazilian’s goals that have turned Brentford into unlikely Champions League contenders.
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Thiago could celebrate an excellent season by helping his country in the World Cup after his first call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
Injury wrecked the 24-year-old’s first season after a £30m move from Club Brugge with a meniscus injury suffered in pre-season setting him back almost immediately.
A joint infection also ruined his recovery and he made just eight appearances without scoring.
But since netting in the opening-day defeat at Nottingham Forest he has never gone more than six games without a goal. Then, he ended his mini drought with a hat-trick in the win at Everton in January.
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Players at Brentford inevitably move on, like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa in the summer, and Thiago is likely to eventually follow suit as it is the club’s model.
But he is revelling in his form and fitness to become Brentford’s main man this season, one which could still end with European qualification.
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