Igor Jesus is a Brazilian striker who plays for Nottingham Forest. He rose from Coritiba’s youth system, spent four successful seasons in the United Arab Emirates and returned home to help Botafogo win both the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores. His winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain at the 2025 Club World Cup then introduced him to a much larger audience before his move to England.
Quick Bio of Igor Jesus
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz |
| Date of birth | February 25, 2001 |
| Age in July 2026 | 25 years old |
| Birthplace | Cuiabá, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Current club | Nottingham Forest |
| Shirt number | 19 |
| Main position | Centre-forward |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Height | Around 1.79 metres |
| Former clubs | Coritiba, Shabab Al Ahli and Botafogo |
| Forest contract | Until summer 2029 |
| Brazil debut | October 10, 2024 |
| First Brazil goal | Against Chile on his debut |
| Main Botafogo honours | 2024 Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Série A |
| Forest goals in 2025/26 | 16 in all competitions |
His full name, birth date, position, preferred foot and current club are recorded by the Premier League and Nottingham Forest. The club confirmed that he signed a four-year agreement in July 2025.
Who Is Igor Jesus?
Igor Jesus is a strong and mobile centre-forward.
He can play as the main striker, protect the ball from defenders and bring teammates into an attack. He also presses opponents and makes runs behind the defensive line.
His game is not built only around scoring.
He can:
- Hold up long passes
- Challenge defenders in the air
- Create space for wide players
- Press from the front
- Link midfield with attack
- Run into open areas
- Finish with either quick touches or headers
When he joined English football, he explained that Premier League defenders were taller and the matches contained more speed, physical contact and strength than he had experienced in Brazil.
How Old Is Igor Jesus?
Igor Jesus was born on February 25, 2001.
He turned 25 years old on February 25, 2026. The Premier League lists his date of birth and identifies him as a Brazilian forward for Nottingham Forest.
He had already played professional football in Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and England before turning 25.
That experience gave him a different career path from many Brazilian attackers who move directly from their home country to Europe.
Where Was Igor Jesus Born?
Igor Jesus was born in Cuiabá, the capital of Brazil’s Mato Grosso state.
However, his professional football journey began far away in southern Brazil with Coritiba. He entered the club’s academy and developed into a senior striker before moving abroad.
His early career did not bring instant international fame.
He slowly built his name through youth football, reserve games and first-team appearances.
That long route helped him learn how to work for opportunities rather than expecting success immediately.
How Did Igor Jesus Start His Career at Coritiba?
Coritiba promoted Igor Jesus from its youth system into the senior squad.
He made his professional breakthrough while still a teenager. Nottingham Forest’s career review says he produced seven goal contributions for Coritiba before attracting interest from Shabab Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates.
The young striker showed enough strength and movement to convince an overseas club that he could develop outside Brazil.
Leaving home at that stage was a major decision.
He needed to adjust to:
- A different language
- A different culture
- A hotter climate
- New teammates
- A new football style
- Life away from his family
The move was risky, but it became an important part of his growth.
Why Did He Move to the United Arab Emirates?
Igor Jesus joined Shabab Al Ahli in 2020.
The transfer gave him regular football, financial security and the chance to compete for trophies. He spent four seasons in the UAE and became a more experienced centre-forward.
Many young Brazilian players use smaller international leagues as a step in their careers.
Some disappear from wider attention.
Igor used his time there to improve his strength, finishing and ability to lead an attack.
Which Trophies Did Igor Jesus Win With Shabab Al Ahli?
He enjoyed a successful spell in the UAE.
Nottingham Forest’s official career review credits him with five winners’ medals across four different competitions. His honours included league, cup and Super Cup success.
He helped Shabab Al Ahli win:
- The UAE Pro League
- The UAE President’s Cup
- The UAE League Cup
- The UAE Super Cup twice
Winning trophies also gave him experience in important matches where one mistake or goal could decide a season.
By 2024, he wanted a new challenge.
Botafogo offered him a route back to Brazil.
When Did Igor Jesus Join Botafogo?
Igor Jesus joined Botafogo in July 2024 after leaving Shabab Al Ahli.
He arrived without the same level of public attention given to some of Botafogo’s other players. Yet his physical style quickly suited the team’s attacking plan.
The striker could occupy central defenders while quick players moved around him.
He also worked hard without the ball.
Those qualities helped Botafogo become stronger in both domestic and South American competition.
Why Did Igor Jesus Become So Important to Botafogo?
Botafogo needed a forward who could lead the attack alone.
Igor Jesus could receive difficult passes, protect possession and wait for support. He was also willing to press defenders and chase loose balls.
His arrival gave players such as Luiz Henrique, Jefferson Savarino and Thiago Almada more freedom.
Opposing defenders could not focus only on those creative players because Igor remained a danger inside the penalty area.
He produced important goals during Botafogo’s Copa Libertadores campaign, including strikes against Palmeiras and Peñarol.
Did Igor Jesus Win the Copa Libertadores?
Yes.
Botafogo won the 2024 Copa Libertadores after beating Atlético Mineiro 3–1 in the final.
The achievement was especially dramatic because Botafogo played almost the entire match with ten men following an early red card. Igor Jesus started the final and helped the team manage the difficult situation before being replaced later in the game.
It was Botafogo’s first Copa Libertadores title.
The victory also secured a place in the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Did Botafogo Also Win the Brazilian League?
Yes.
Botafogo completed a historic double by winning the 2024 Brazilian Série A as well as the Copa Libertadores.
Nottingham Forest highlighted both titles when reviewing Igor’s career before his arrival in England.
The trophies changed his reputation.
He was no longer simply a forward returning from the UAE.
He had become a key member of one of the strongest Botafogo teams in the club’s history.
What Happened at the 2025 Club World Cup?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup made Igor Jesus known to football fans outside South America.
He scored during Botafogo’s opening 2–1 victory against Seattle Sounders. His next goal created an even bigger story.
Botafogo faced Paris Saint-Germain, who had recently become European champions.
Igor scored the only goal of the match as the Brazilian club won 1–0. FIFA and Nottingham Forest both highlighted the result as one of the major moments of his rise.
The goal showed several of his strengths.
He moved into space, remained calm and finished an important chance against one of the world’s most expensive teams.
When Did Igor Jesus Join Nottingham Forest?
Nottingham Forest announced his signing on July 5, 2025.
He became the club’s first new arrival of the 2025/26 summer transfer window. Forest gave him a four-year contract, which runs until summer 2029.
The official announcement did not reveal a transfer fee.
Reports published different figures, but no amount should be treated as fully confirmed without a statement from one of the clubs.
Igor joined Forest after completing Botafogo’s Club World Cup campaign.
Why Did Nottingham Forest Sign Him?
Forest needed another striker who could compete with and support its existing forwards.
Igor offered a mixture of strength, pressing, movement and international experience. He had also shown that he could handle pressure during title races and major knockout matches.
His career already included trophies in two countries, a Copa Libertadores title and goals against Brazil and Europe’s strongest teams.
The move also gave Forest a forward entering his best physical years.
At 24, he was young enough to improve but experienced enough to help the first team immediately.
What Number Does Igor Jesus Wear?
Igor Jesus wears the number 19 shirt for Nottingham Forest.
The Premier League lists him as a right-footed forward, while Forest uses him mainly as a central striker.
At Botafogo, he was commonly seen wearing number 99.
The number changed after his move, but his role remained similar: lead the attack, fight with central defenders and create room for teammates.
How Did Igor Jesus Adapt to English Football?
The adjustment was not simple.
In October 2025, Igor explained that English football was faster and more physical. He also spoke about facing very tall defenders and working to improve his English so he could understand instructions and communicate more easily.
He still made a useful early impact.
By October, he had scored four goals in nine appearances, mainly through cup and European matches. By November, he had five goals in 14 appearances and was leading Forest’s scoring list at that stage.
His Premier League goals arrived more slowly.
That was understandable because he was learning a new league while sharing playing time with other forwards.
When Did Igor Jesus Score His First Premier League Goal?
Igor scored his first Premier League goal during Forest’s 1–0 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The goal decided the match and gave his team three important points. Forest later described it as the difference between the sides.
His first home league goal followed soon afterward.
The club’s coaching staff praised his bravery and willingness to keep entering dangerous positions despite the difficult adjustment to English football.
How Many Goals Did Igor Jesus Score in 2025/26?
Igor Jesus finished his first Nottingham Forest season with 16 goals in all competitions.
Only Morgan Gibbs-White scored more for the club, finishing two goals ahead with 18. Forest described Igor’s campaign as a standout first season in English football.
His total was especially impressive because he did not start every Premier League match.
A large share of his goals came in cup and European competition, where his strength and movement caused major problems for defenders.
Why Was He So Effective in Europe?
Igor became one of Forest’s key Europa League attackers.
He scored in the league phase and continued contributing during the knockout rounds. His goals helped Forest move through matches against teams including Fenerbahçe and Porto before reaching the semi-finals.
He also scored twice in Forest’s final league-phase match, helping the club complete that stage with a strong victory.
European games often gave him more space than tightly packed Premier League matches.
He used that room to make forward runs and attack crosses.
What Is Igor Jesus’s Playing Style?
Igor is a modern central striker.
He offers more than penalty-box finishing.
He Protects the Ball
The Brazilian can receive passes with a defender behind him and keep possession until support arrives.
He Presses Defenders
He works without the ball and tries to force opponents into rushed passes.
He Attacks Crosses
His timing and strength make him dangerous when the ball enters the penalty area.
He Creates Space
Central defenders often follow him, allowing teammates to move into the spaces he leaves.
He Can Run Behind
Although he looks physically strong, he can also make quick runs beyond a defensive line.
His own description of English football showed that he understood the need to become even stronger in aerial battles and physical contact.
How Tall Is Igor Jesus?
Most current football profiles list Igor at around 1.79 metres, or approximately 5 feet 10 inches.
Some sources round the figure to 1.80 metres.
He is not as tall as some Premier League centre-forwards.
However, height alone does not decide aerial ability.
Timing, strength and positioning can allow a slightly shorter striker to compete successfully against taller defenders.
When Did Igor Jesus Make His Brazil Debut?
Igor received his first senior Brazil call-up in October 2024.
He started against Chile in a World Cup qualifying match on October 10 and scored before half-time. Brazil eventually won 2–1.
The goal came from a header after Savinho delivered a cross.
It was a dream international start.
Only a few months earlier, Igor had returned to Brazil without a senior international appearance. He then scored on his debut while leading the attack for one of football’s most famous national teams.
Did He Assist in His Next Brazil Match?
Yes.
Nottingham Forest’s career review says Igor followed his debut goal by providing an assist against Peru five days later.
He remained part of Brazil’s squad for the November 2024 international matches.
After a period away from the national team, Carlo Ancelotti recalled him for friendlies against South Korea and Japan in October 2025.
The recall showed that his early Forest performances had kept him in Brazil’s wider plans.
Did Igor Jesus Play at the 2026 World Cup?
Igor Jesus was discussed as one of Brazil’s centre-forward options and appeared in the country’s large preliminary group.
However, he did not make Carlo Ancelotti’s final World Cup squad announced in May 2026. Brazil selected other attacking options, including Brentford forward Igor Thiago.
Missing the final squad did not erase Igor’s international progress.
He had already scored for Brazil and remained young enough to compete for future call-ups.
Consistent Premier League form could bring another opportunity.
Is Igor Jesus the Same Player as Igor Thiago?
No.
They are different Brazilian strikers.
Igor Jesus plays for Nottingham Forest, while Igor Thiago plays for Brentford.
Both have appeared in discussions about Brazil’s centre-forward position, which can create confusion.
Igor Jesus should also not be confused with Igor Jesus Lima, a Brazilian defensive midfielder connected with Los Angeles FC.
Checking the player’s club and position is the easiest way to tell them apart.
Is Igor Jesus Married?
Igor keeps much of his private life away from football reporting.
No dependable official source clearly confirms his current marital status.
Several biography websites may name a girlfriend or wife without linking to a direct statement from the player.
Those claims should not be treated as confirmed facts.
His documented public story mainly focuses on football, family support and his journey between Brazil, the UAE and England.
What Is Igor Jesus’s Net Worth?
Igor Jesus’s exact net worth is not publicly known.
Online estimates cannot see his taxes, savings, investments, property or private contracts.
A reported transfer fee is also not the same as a player’s personal wealth. Transfer money normally moves between clubs, while the footballer receives wages and any agreed signing payments.
It is safe to say that he earns income as a Premier League and Brazil international footballer.
A precise personal fortune cannot be confirmed.
Will Igor Jesus Leave Nottingham Forest?
No transfer away from Forest has been officially announced.
His current contract runs until summer 2029, giving the club long-term control over his future.
His 16-goal first season may naturally create interest from other teams.
Still, rumours do not mean a deal is close.
Forest brought him to England as a player who could develop over several seasons, and his first campaign showed that he can score in domestic and European football.
What Could Come Next for Him?
The next challenge is becoming more consistent in the Premier League.
Igor produced many goals across all competitions, but increasing his league total would make him even more valuable.
He can improve through:
- Faster decisions inside the box
- Better communication with teammates
- More accurate finishing
- Stronger aerial timing
- Greater knowledge of Premier League defenders
- Regular starts
- Improved English
His first year proved that he could adapt.
The second could show whether he can become Forest’s main striker every week.
Final Thoughts
Igor Jesus took an unusual path to the Premier League.
He began with Coritiba before leaving Brazil at a young age to join Shabab Al Ahli. Four years in the United Arab Emirates gave him regular football, greater strength and several winners’ medals.
His return to Brazil changed his career.
Botafogo gave him a central role, and he helped the club win both the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Série A in 2024.
He also earned his first Brazil call-up and scored against Chile on his international debut.
The 2025 Club World Cup then brought another unforgettable moment.
Igor scored against Seattle Sounders before netting the winner against European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Nottingham Forest signed him shortly after the tournament.
His first season in England included difficult adjustments, but it ended with 16 goals in all competitions. He became especially important during Forest’s European campaign and finished only two goals behind the club’s leading scorer.
Igor missed Brazil’s final 2026 World Cup squad, but his international story may not be over.
At 25, he remains under contract with Forest until 2029 and has time to become a more complete Premier League striker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Igor Jesus?
Igor Jesus is a Brazilian professional striker who plays for Nottingham Forest.
What is Igor Jesus’s full name?
His full name is Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz.
How old is Igor Jesus?
He is 25 years old as of July 2026.
When was Igor Jesus born?
He was born on February 25, 2001.
Where was Igor Jesus born?
He was born in Cuiabá, Brazil.
How tall is Igor Jesus?
He is commonly listed at around 1.79 metres, or approximately 5 feet 10 inches.
Which club does Igor Jesus play for?
He plays for Nottingham Forest.
What number does Igor Jesus wear?
He wears number 19 for Nottingham Forest.
What position does he play?
He mainly plays as a centre-forward.
Is Igor Jesus right-footed?
Yes. His preferred foot is his right.
When did he join Nottingham Forest?
He joined Forest on July 5, 2025.
How long is his Forest contract?
His four-year contract runs until summer 2029.
Which clubs has Igor Jesus played for?
He has played for Coritiba, Shabab Al Ahli, Botafogo and Nottingham Forest.
Did he win the Copa Libertadores?
Yes. He won the 2024 Copa Libertadores with Botafogo.
Did he win the Brazilian league?
Yes. Botafogo won the 2024 Série A title.
Did Igor Jesus score against PSG?
Yes. He scored the winning goal as Botafogo beat Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 at the 2025 Club World Cup.
How many goals did he score for Forest in 2025/26?
He scored 16 goals in all competitions.
Has Igor Jesus played for Brazil?
Yes. He made his senior debut in October 2024.
Did he score on his Brazil debut?
Yes. He scored against Chile during Brazil’s 2–1 victory.
Did Igor Jesus go to the 2026 World Cup?
He was considered among Brazil’s options but did not enter the final tournament squad.
Is Igor Jesus the same as Igor Thiago?
No. Igor Thiago is another Brazilian striker who plays for Brentford.
Is Igor Jesus married?
His marital status has not been reliably confirmed through an official public source.
What is Igor Jesus’s net worth?
His exact net worth is private and has not been verified.
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