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Igor Thiago sets record for most goals by a Brazilian in a Premier League season

LONDON (AP) — There have been plenty of top Brazilian players in the Premier League. None have scored more in a single campaign than Igor Thiago.

The 24-year-old striker made it 16 goals for the season in the league with a double for Brentford in its 3-0 win over Sunderland on Wednesday.

That’s the most by a Brazilian in England’s top flight in one season, according to stats company Opta.

Thiago overtook former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha — the former Wolverhampton forward now at Manchester United (2024-25) — who all had 15 goals in a single Premier League campaign.

Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison and Philippe Coutinho are other leading Brazil attackers to have played in the league.

Thiago is in his first season as Brentford’s first-choice striker following the recent departures of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

He has never played for Brazil but is pushing to make the national team’s squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico this year.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The arrival of AJ Dybantsa gives Wizards hope

For the first time in almost a half-century, the Washington Wizards could be closer to contending for an NBA title with the arrival of AJ Dybantsa. The team drafted the 6-foot-9 forward with the first pick of the 2026 NBA draft after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league in the past three years. They got the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery in May for the first time since 2010 -- when they drafted John Wall. The Wizards hope, with the arrival of Dybantsa, that they can start winning games and competing for the playoffs with a chance to win their first championship since 1978. In the past three seasons, they finished with a combined record of 50-196. “We’re definitely getting a difference maker on the basketball court. There’s no doubt about that,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. “What I would want our fans to know night one is that he is a worker. He is a passionate person who loves basketball and will continue to work and get better.”
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