Igor Jesus is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. His full name is Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz, and he has become one of Brazil’s most interesting modern forwards after successful spells with Coritiba, Shabab Al Ahli and Botafogo. Born in Cuiabá on February 25, 2001, Igor rose from a modest childhood to become a Copa Libertadores and Brazilian league champion, score for Brazil on his international debut, defeat Paris Saint-Germain at the FIFA Club World Cup and finish as a joint-top scorer in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League.
Igor Jesus Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz |
| Known As | Igor Jesus |
| Date of Birth | February 25, 2001 |
| Age in 2026 | 25 years old |
| Birthplace | Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | About 1.80 m |
| Position | Centre-forward / Striker |
| Current Club | Nottingham Forest |
| Shirt Number | 19 |
| Former Clubs | Coritiba, Shabab Al Ahli, Botafogo |
| Brazil Debut | October 2024 |
| Brazil Debut Goal | Against Chile |
| Wife | Angélica Richter |
| Wife’s Profession | Sports nutritionist |
| Major Titles | Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão with Botafogo |
| Major European Achievement | 2025–26 Europa League joint-top scorer |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Net Worth | Not independently verified |
Official records from Brazil’s football federation confirm Igor’s full name, February 25, 2001 birth date and current association with Nottingham Forest. The Premier League also lists him as a Brazilian right-footed forward wearing No. 19.
Who Is Igor Jesus?
Igor Jesus is a Brazilian striker whose career has taken him through three continents.
His journey began in Brazil.
He then moved to the United Arab Emirates while still very young.
After four years abroad, he returned home and became one of Botafogo’s most important forwards.
His success in Rio de Janeiro changed his career.
He won major trophies.
He earned a Brazil call-up.
He scored on his international debut.
Then he moved to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
By 2026, Igor was no longer simply a promising Brazilian forward.
He had become a proven international-level striker with experience in South America, Asia and Europe.
When Was Igor Jesus Born?
Igor Jesus was born on February 25, 2001, in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
That makes him 25 years old in 2026.
Botafogo’s official announcement when signing him in 2024 listed the same date and birthplace, while the Brazilian Football Confederation also records those details.
His relatively young age is important when looking at everything he has already experienced.
By 25, Igor had:
played professional football in Brazil,
spent several seasons in Dubai,
won the Copa Libertadores,
won Brazil’s Série A,
represented the national team,
played in the Club World Cup,
moved to the Premier League,
and become a Europa League top scorer.
Igor Jesus’ Childhood in Cuiabá
Igor did not grow up inside a rich football family.
Brazilian reporting describes his childhood in Cuiabá as modest.
His family lived close to the Cuiabá River, and fishing was part of everyday family life.
As a boy, Igor reportedly helped relatives around the family’s fish-related work while dreaming about becoming a footballer.
His mother, Dianna, became one of the most important people in his early journey.
When the opportunity arrived for Igor to leave home and pursue football seriously, she supported his ambition.
It was not an easy decision.
He was still a child.
Igor Left Home at Only 12
One of the most remarkable parts of Igor’s story happened when he was around 12 years old.
He left Cuiabá for Curitiba so he could continue developing as a footballer.
His mother later remembered that the young Igor struggled emotionally with being far from home.
She told him he could return if things became too difficult.
Igor refused.
He wanted to keep fighting for his dream.
According to his mother, he told her he wanted to become a professional player.
That decision eventually led him into Coritiba’s youth system.
Igor Jesus at Coritiba
Igor developed at Coritiba, one of the best-known clubs in the Brazilian state of Paraná.
He spent several years in the youth system before reaching the senior team.
Nottingham Forest’s official transfer announcement says Igor made his first-team debut at only 18 years old.
Breaking into professional football is extremely difficult.
A talented academy player still has to compete against experienced adults.
Matches become faster.
Defenders become stronger.
Mistakes become more costly.
Igor proved capable of making the transition.
But his career soon took an unusual turn.
Instead of remaining in Brazil or moving directly to Europe, he went to the Middle East.
Why Igor Jesus Moved to Dubai
In 2020, Igor joined Shabab Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates.
He was still only 19.
For many young Brazilian players, moving abroad at that age can be difficult.
There is a different language.
Different weather.
Different culture.
Different food.
And the player is suddenly far away from the football environment he knows.
Igor adapted extremely well.
Nottingham Forest later reported that he scored 43 goals and supplied 20 assists in 88 appearances during his time with Shabab Al Ahli.
Those are impressive numbers.
His years in Dubai transformed him from a young prospect into a more complete striker.
Success With Shabab Al Ahli
Igor spent around four years in the United Arab Emirates.
He won domestic trophies and gained valuable experience.
Botafogo’s official announcement noted that he arrived in Brazil after a season in which Shabab Al Ahli had won the UAE Super Cup and league title.
But another interesting opportunity also appeared.
Igor became eligible for a possible future with the United Arab Emirates national team.
He could have considered changing his international allegiance.
Instead, he waited.
His mother later explained that Igor told her his real dream was playing for Brazil.
That decision eventually paid off.
Why Igor Jesus Returned to Brazil
In July 2024, Igor returned home and signed with Botafogo.
The Rio de Janeiro club gave him the opportunity to prove himself in Brazilian football again after several years overseas.
Some people may have viewed his Dubai career as a reason to question how he would perform against Brazil’s best teams.
Igor quickly answered those questions.
He became an important part of Botafogo’s attack.
His physical strength, movement and ability to work against defenders made him especially valuable.
And 2024 became one of the greatest seasons in Botafogo’s history.
Igor Jesus and Botafogo’s Historic 2024 Season
Botafogo achieved something extraordinary in 2024.
The club won both the Copa Libertadores and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Igor was an important member of that team.
The success also completely changed how the wider football world viewed him.
He was no longer simply a player returning from the UAE.
He was a striker helping one of Brazil’s biggest clubs compete for major trophies.
The Premier League’s official announcement of his Nottingham Forest transfer specifically highlighted his role in Botafogo’s Libertadores and Brazilian league triumphs.
Igor Jesus and the Brazil National Team
Igor’s Botafogo performances attracted attention from the Brazilian national team.
In September 2024, he received his first senior call-up.
Back home in Cuiabá, his family gathered to watch the announcement.
His mother became emotional.
Years earlier, Igor had told her that he would someday wear Brazil’s famous yellow shirt.
Now that prediction was becoming real.
The next step was even better.
He did not simply receive a call-up.
He scored immediately.
Igor Jesus Scored on His Brazil Debut
Igor made his Brazil debut during a World Cup qualifier against Chile in October 2024.
Brazil fell behind.
Then Igor scored the equalizer.
Brazil eventually won 2–1.
The Brazilian Football Confederation described it as a memorable start: Igor scored his first national-team goal in his very first appearance.
For a striker, there are few better ways to begin an international career.
He went from waiting years for an opportunity to scoring almost immediately after receiving one.
Igor Jesus Against Peru
Igor remained involved for Brazil’s next match against Peru.
He did not score, but he contributed an assist as Brazil won comfortably.
Nottingham Forest later highlighted both his debut goal against Chile and his assist against Peru when announcing his signing.
Those performances made Igor one of Brazil’s most discussed new attacking options.
Suddenly, the possibility of playing at the 2026 World Cup seemed realistic.
The Goal Against PSG That Changed Everything
One of Igor’s biggest career moments came at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Botafogo faced Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG were among the strongest teams in world football.
Few people expected the Brazilian side to defeat them.
But Botafogo won 1–0.
Igor Jesus scored the winning goal.
It became one of the tournament’s biggest surprises and one of the defining moments of Igor’s career.
Nottingham Forest’s transfer announcement later highlighted that goal when introducing him to English supporters.
A year later, Botafogo was still celebrating the anniversary of the victory.
Igor Jesus at the 2025 Club World Cup
Igor scored two goals during Botafogo’s Club World Cup campaign.
He was also named Player of the Match in the club’s opening two fixtures.
Those performances came at exactly the right moment.
European clubs were watching.
His combination of physical strength, mobility and pressing looked suited to English football.
Within weeks, Nottingham Forest completed his signing.
Igor Jesus Joins Nottingham Forest
On July 5, 2025, Nottingham Forest officially announced the signing of Igor Jesus.
He agreed to a four-year contract.
That deal is scheduled to keep him with Forest through 2029 unless he transfers earlier.
Moving into the Premier League represented another enormous jump.
English football is extremely physical.
Matches move quickly.
Strikers face strong central defenders every week.
Igor had to adapt again.
Fortunately, adapting to new countries was nothing new for him.
He had already done it in the UAE.
What Number Does Igor Jesus Wear?
Igor wears No. 19 for Nottingham Forest.
The Premier League’s 2026–27 squad listing continues to show him among Forest’s forwards wearing that number.
This also confirms an important current detail:
Igor Jesus remains a Nottingham Forest player in the 2026–27 season.
Igor Jesus’ First Season in England
Igor’s first Premier League season was not always easy.
He had competition for attacking positions and had to learn a new style of football.
His domestic goal numbers developed more slowly than his European numbers.
But in Europe, everything seemed to click.
The UEFA Europa League became the competition in which Igor truly announced himself to Forest supporters.
Igor Jesus Became Europa League Top Scorer
Igor scored seven goals during Nottingham Forest’s 2025–26 UEFA Europa League campaign.
That was enough to make him the competition’s joint-top scorer, alongside Petar Stanić of Ludogorets.
This was a major achievement.
The Europa League featured clubs and players from across Europe.
Igor finished ahead of many well-known attacking stars.
UEFA records also show that he made 13 appearances and scored seven times during Forest’s run.
Nottingham Forest’s European Run
Nottingham Forest reached the Europa League semi-finals in 2025–26.
It was an important European campaign for a club with such a famous history.
Igor became one of its most important attacking players during the run.
UEFA’s historical statistics now list him as Forest’s leading Europa League scorer with seven goals in that season.
Even though Forest did not win the competition, Igor’s performances established him as a dangerous European striker.
Igor Jesus’ Playing Style
Igor is mainly a centre-forward.
At around 1.80 metres tall, he is not an unusually giant striker, but he plays with considerable physical strength.
His game includes:
holding up the ball,
attacking crosses,
pressing defenders,
making runs behind the defensive line,
linking with midfielders,
and fighting for possession.
He is also comfortable using his body to protect the ball.
These qualities help explain why he adjusted well to the physical side of Premier League football.
Is Igor Jesus Fast?
Igor is not simply a traditional target man who waits inside the penalty area.
He can move quickly into space.
His goal against PSG demonstrated this.
He found room behind the defense and finished an attacking move that became famous among Botafogo supporters.
That combination of movement and strength makes him difficult to defend.
A centre-back cannot simply push him away from the ball.
But giving him space can also be dangerous.
Who Is Igor Jesus’ Wife?
Igor Jesus is married to Angélica Richter.
She is a Brazilian nutritionist from Curitiba and is known professionally for her work in sports nutrition.
UOL reported that Angélica moved to Dubai with Igor during his Shabab Al Ahli years and regularly supported him at both club and Brazil matches.
The couple’s relationship has generally remained private.
They do not appear to use their marriage as a celebrity business.
What Does Angélica Richter Do?
Angélica studied nutrition and later specialized in sports nutrition.
Living with a professional footballer gave her direct experience with the daily routines of elite athletes.
That includes issues such as:
training,
recovery,
energy requirements,
hydration,
travel,
and match preparation.
Brazilian reporting says she studied at Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná and later developed greater specialization in sports nutrition.
How Did Igor Jesus Meet His Wife?
Reports say Igor and Angélica were already together when he was around 19 years old.
When Igor moved from Coritiba to Shabab Al Ahli in 2020, Angélica went with him to the United Arab Emirates.
They spent around four years living in Dubai before returning to Brazil for Igor’s move to Botafogo.
The exact wedding date has not been widely documented.
So it is safer to say they are married without inventing a precise ceremony date.
Does Igor Jesus Have Children?
There is no strong public reporting clearly confirming that Igor and Angélica have children.
Because the couple keeps much of their personal life private, it is better not to assume anything beyond what they have made public.
For now, Igor’s family coverage focuses mostly on his wife and his mother.
Igor Jesus’ Mother Dianna
Igor’s mother, Dianna, has been one of his biggest supporters.
Her interviews provide some of the clearest information about his childhood.
She remembered him leaving home at 12.
She watched him build a career abroad.
She encouraged him when the possibility of representing the United Arab Emirates appeared.
And she celebrated emotionally when he finally received his Brazil call-up.
Igor’s rise therefore feels like a family achievement as much as an individual one.
Did Igor Jesus Play at the 2026 World Cup?
No.
Igor hoped to make Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was ultimately left out.
Earlier in 2026, he had spoken openly about his dream of playing in the tournament.
At that stage, he was leading the Europa League scoring charts and trying to force his way back into Brazil’s plans.
Carlo Ancelotti did not include him in the final World Cup squad.
In August 2026, Igor admitted that missing the tournament had been disappointing but said he would continue working toward future Brazil opportunities.
Could Igor Jesus Return to Brazil’s National Team?
Yes.
He is only 25.
That means his international career could still have many years ahead.
His response after missing the 2026 World Cup was important.
Rather than suggesting his Brazil career was over, Igor said his goal was to keep performing and earn another call-up.
Brazil begins another cycle toward the 2030 World Cup.
If Igor performs consistently in the Premier League, he could easily return to the national-team discussion.
Igor Jesus in the 2026–27 Season
Igor remains part of Nottingham Forest’s squad for the new Premier League season.
He started Forest’s first pre-season match under Oliver Glasner in July 2026 and scored in a 2–0 victory over Notts County.
By late August, he was again involved as Forest began the Premier League campaign.
His focus now is clear:
score more regularly in England,
continue developing,
and put himself back in position for Brazil.
Igor Jesus’ Net Worth
Igor Jesus’ exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Football websites sometimes publish estimates, but there is no complete public record of his finances.
His income has likely increased significantly as his career developed through:
Shabab Al Ahli,
Botafogo,
Brazil,
and Nottingham Forest.
But knowing transfer fees or salary estimates is not enough to calculate someone’s actual fortune.
A real net-worth figure would require information about savings, property, investments, taxes and debts.
For that reason, exact numbers should be treated as speculation.
Why Igor Jesus Is Different From Many Brazilian Strikers
Igor’s route to the Premier League was unusual.
He did not become a teenage superstar at Flamengo, Palmeiras or Santos and move immediately to a European giant.
Instead, he:
started at Coritiba,
left Brazil for Dubai,
spent four years developing away from major European attention,
returned to Brazil,
became a champion with Botafogo,
earned a national-team call-up,
and then reached England.
His career demonstrates that football development does not always follow one perfect route.
Sometimes a player needs a longer journey.
Final Thoughts on Igor Jesus
Igor Jesus’ story is one of persistence.
He was born in Cuiabá in 2001 and left home at only 12 because he wanted to become a footballer.
His mother remembered him refusing to give up even when homesickness made life difficult.
He eventually reached Coritiba’s first team.
Then he made the bold decision to move to the United Arab Emirates as a teenager.
Four productive years with Shabab Al Ahli gave him experience and confidence.
Returning to Brazil with Botafogo changed everything.
Igor helped the club win the 2024 Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão, earned his first Brazil call-up and scored on his international debut against Chile.
Then came another unforgettable moment.
At the 2025 Club World Cup, Igor scored the goal that gave Botafogo a stunning 1–0 victory over PSG.
That summer, Nottingham Forest signed him to a four-year contract.
His first year in England brought another major achievement when he scored seven Europa League goals and finished as the tournament’s joint-top scorer.
Missing Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad was a disappointment.
But Igor is still only 25.
His career is far from finished.
He has already gone from the riverbanks of Cuiabá to Brazil’s national team, from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro and from Botafogo to the Premier League.
Now his next challenge is turning strong European performances into consistent Premier League success.
If he can do that, Igor Jesus may still have some of the biggest chapters of his football story ahead of him.
FAQs About Igor Jesus
Who is Igor Jesus?
Igor Jesus is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest.
What is Igor Jesus’ full name?
His full name is Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz.
How old is Igor Jesus?
He was born on February 25, 2001, making him 25 years old in 2026.
Where was Igor Jesus born?
He was born in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
How tall is Igor Jesus?
Botafogo’s official player information listed him at around 1.80 metres tall.
What position does Igor Jesus play?
He plays mainly as a centre-forward or striker.
Which club does Igor Jesus play for?
As of the 2026–27 season, he plays for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
What number does Igor Jesus wear?
He wears No. 19 for Nottingham Forest.
Which clubs has Igor Jesus played for?
His senior career includes Coritiba, Shabab Al Ahli, Botafogo and Nottingham Forest.
Did Igor Jesus play for Botafogo?
Yes. He joined Botafogo in July 2024 and became an important member of its championship-winning team.
What trophies did Igor Jesus win with Botafogo?
He helped Botafogo win the 2024 Copa Libertadores and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Did Igor Jesus score against PSG?
Yes. He scored Botafogo’s winning goal in a 1–0 victory over PSG at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
When did Igor Jesus join Nottingham Forest?
Forest officially announced his signing on July 5, 2025.
How long is Igor Jesus’ Nottingham Forest contract?
He signed a four-year contract in 2025.
Did Igor Jesus play for Brazil?
Yes. He has represented Brazil at senior international level.
Did Igor Jesus score on his Brazil debut?
Yes. He scored against Chile on his international debut in October 2024.
Did Igor Jesus go to the 2026 World Cup?
No. He missed Brazil’s final squad and later said he was disappointed not to be selected.
Was Igor Jesus the Europa League top scorer?
Yes. He and Petar Stanić finished as joint-top scorers in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League with seven goals each.
Who is Igor Jesus’ wife?
He is married to Brazilian sports nutritionist Angélica Richter.
What does Igor Jesus’ wife do?
Angélica Richter is a nutritionist who has specialized in sports nutrition.
Who is Igor Jesus’ mother?
His mother is named Dianna. She has spoken publicly about supporting his football dream since childhood.
What is Igor Jesus’ net worth?
His exact net worth has not been independently verified.
Is Igor Jesus still at Nottingham Forest in 2026?
Yes. The Premier League’s 2026–27 Nottingham Forest squad includes Igor Jesus as a forward wearing No. 19.
Why is Igor Jesus famous?
He is known for winning major titles with Botafogo, scoring on his Brazil debut, scoring the winner against PSG at the Club World Cup and becoming the 2025–26 Europa League joint-top scorer.
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