Brentford striker Igor Thiago aspiring to make Brazil FIFA World Cup squad ahead of Arsenal clash: 'The biggest dream of my life'

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Brentford striker Igor Thiago has told TNT Sports ahead of his side's clash with Arsenal it would be "the biggest dream of my life" to represent his country Brazil at this summer's World Cup. The Bees frontman has scored 17 goals so far this campaign - the most a Brazilian player has ever netted in a single Premier League campaign - and is surely in Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti's thinking.

'The dream of my life' - Thiago says representing Brazil at World Cup would be the ultimate honour

Video credit: TNT Sports

Brentford striker Igor Thiago has said it is "the biggest dream of my life" to represent Brazil at this summer's FIFA World Cup, ahead of facing Arsenal, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Thursday.

Thiago has had a sensational campaign so far for the Bees, netting 17 Premier League goals, with only Erling Haaland scoring more.

However, the 24-year-old is yet to feature for his country, and with the World Cup just four months away, he has strong aspirations of making Carlo Ancelotti's squad.

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Thiago told TNT Sports: "It would be amazing. The biggest dream of my life is to wear my national team jersey, to represent my country.

"Without a doubt, it would be the biggest achievement of my life. And, God permitting, having the opportunity to be a world champion."

Thiago arrived at the Gtech from Club Brugge in the summer of 2024, but made just eight appearances last season, seven of those from the bench, due to two serious knee injuries.

The Brazilian describes the disrupted campaign as a "very difficult time", but believes it allowed him to "see the Premier League in a better way from the outside".

'I didn't even like football' - Thiago says Man Utd helped him fall in love with the beautiful game

Video credit: TNT Sports

Although Thiago had hoped to deliver the kind of form he has produced this season once fit, he did not expect the goals to come so quickly.

"I've always dreamt, I've always had this dream of one day being able to play these kinds of trophies, these kinds of performances during this period," Thiago explained.

"I've always dreamt about it, but I didn't imagine it would be so fast. I thought it would take a little longer, that I would have to do a lot more. But, thank God, people have recognised my efforts and my work on the pitch."

Thiago's goalscoring exploits have rocketed Brentford up the Premier League table, with the Bees sitting in seventh.

The west London side are just three points behind Liverpool and five adrift of fifth-place Chelsea, with both sides having played a game more.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Thiago, whose Premier League idols include Harry Kane, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo, is allowing himself to dream of European qualification.

Asked about his goals for the remainder of the season, he said: "I hope I can perform well, keep performing well, have good results.

"Put Brentford together with my teammates in the elite, participating in European competitions.

He added: "Without a doubt, it would be an inexplicable feeling. I think it would be a feeling of duty fulfilled, a feeling of making history with Brentford's jersey, because that's what I'm looking for.

"It would also bring joy to the fans, to give them the opportunity to see Brentford in a European competition."

Given his injury problems last year, Thiago was not able to experience much of Thomas Frank's coaching in the Dane's final season at the club.

But he is clearly enjoying life under current boss Keith Andrews, likening their bond to a "father-son relationship".

"We have intimacy, trustworthiness, and, without a doubt, he explores my best side," Thiago explained.

"He demands of me in a different way. He's able to communicate with me, not just with me, but with the whole group. He has a different way of communicating that works well.

"Without a doubt, it's also a matter of respect and the patience he has to understand everything. I think that's one of the most important things for him to get good results from me."

When is Brentford v Arsenal?

Brentford will welcome Arsenal to the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday, February 12.

Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ starting from 19:00.

How to watch Brentford v Arsenal?

Brentford v Arsenal will be live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

To find out where your local establishments showing TNT Sports are, use our Pub Finder.

For the latest information on which football matches are on TNT Sports, click here.

Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide. And for the full Premier League schedule, click here.

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