© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

Igor Jesus: Botafogo’s Hidden Gem Ready for the Spotlight

December 11, 2024
Player Analysis, Brasileirão

Igor Jesus arrived at Botafogo in July. The 23-year-old striker, previously little known in Brazilian football, joined the club to compete for a spot with Tiquinho Soares and quickly became a starter and a trusted player for manager Artur Jorge. The young striker left Brazil at 19 years of age to play for Shabab Al-Ahli, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he would spend the next four years of his career.

 

At the start of 2024, Igor entered the final six months of his contract with Al-Ahali and was highly rated in the Middle East as he was only a year away from being eligible for naturalization to play for the United Arab Emirates national team.  However, Botafogo was also closely monitoring the striker’s situation, with Alessandro Brito, head of the Brazilian club’s scouting department, leading the efforts to sign Jesus.

 

“It’s Time to Set Fire” – John Textor’s Brazilian Battle to Reignite Botafogo

 

In addition to the strong interest from Fogão, the player’s desire to return to his home country eased negotiations, and the young forward returned to Brazil with a dream in mind: to represent the national team. He needed only 19 matches for Botafogo to convince Dorival Júnior and make his dream come true.

 

He got his first call-up for the Seleção and not only started, but also scored, on his debut for the national team in the World Cup Qualifiers tie against Chile in Santiago. He would follow that up with an assist vs. Peru, before starting in their next two matches — a 1-1 draw vs. Venezuela and a 1-1 draw vs. Uruguay. Now, in Brazil, everyone knows Igor Jesus, but it’s also time for the world to get to know this young striker who has been rising away from the spotlight.

 

 

Igor Jesus’ playing style showcases his ability to combine physicality with technical skills as a center-forward, with his high work rate and awareness blending well to make him influential both in and out of possession. He is a great ball controller, with good body strength to shield the ball, handling pressure and holding onto the ball when he receives it in isolation, and like that, he provides relief for the team by allowing his teammates time to move closer and support the build-up.

 

He is highly mobile and excels at playing as a pivot, both near and away from the penalty area, thereby taking on a central role in advancing plays through his distribution. On the other hand, his physical strength and effective use of his body enable him not only to shield the ball but also to turn when receiving with his back to the defender, allowing him to break away and push the attack forward.

 

 

The Brazilian center-forward’s ability to exploit space behind the opponent’s back stands out. Jesus is able to combine his speed and acceleration with his game reading and spatial awareness, which make him excellent at making runs.

 

He likes to play off the shoulder of his marker, that is, he moves in order to “deceive” whoever is marking him to unmark himself and receive the ball in good conditions to score the goal or get an assist. It’s a bit like “getting lost” on the defender and taking advantage when he’s not paying attention by running in behind his back.

 

Igor Jesus’ heat map in the 2024 Brasileirão Série A (Sofascore)

 

The way he operates, and the key attributes highlighted so far translate his presence across the pitch as shown by his heatmap above. More than just positioning himself in different sectors, he is able to do so in a way that he is mostly on side, presenting himself in a legal position to receive the ball and help the team advance on the pitch.

 

The way he operates, and the key attributes highlighted so far translate his presence across the pitch as shown by his heat map above. More than just positioning himself in different sectors, he is able to do so in a way that he is mostly on side, presenting himself in a legal position to receive the ball.

 

Again, his ease of exploiting the defender’s back stands out, making him a great target for long and through balls that he is able to square, control and work in space. When he receives those balls near or in the final third, Igor poses a special threat to the opposition, being able to make quick moves and decisions to generate danger, either by finding a teammate entering the area or by finishing the play himself.

 

 

His positioning is also important for Botafogo’s team play. The center-forward likes to drop deep and by that he is able to disrupt the opposition’s defensive organization. By dropping deep, Igor is able to stretch the opposition’s lines, guaranteeing space and length for his team to work around the pitch. As discussed earlier, when playing deeper and in isolation, he also tends to present himself as an option to receive the ball to engage in the build-up or to create a shooting opportunity for himself.

 

Even though he arrived at Botafogo at the middle of the season, he quickly developed a good connection with his teammates, picking up on the collective dynamics and movements, and, most importantly, adapting to them. As a team that likes to control possession and play in the attacking half, Igor’s presence in the area is key.

 

Highly technical, Jesus can work in tight spaces with passes and possession. He also shows good fundamentals in this aerial game, as he is able to anticipate the defender’s action and attack the ball.

 

 

Photo: @fbcharts

 

His important off-the-ball movement, which is paramount to the team when in possession, also shows its importance when the team is in defensive transitions and organized to defend. The combination of the center-forward’s reading and mobility allow him to make a fair number of blocks during matches, especially compared to other players in his position.

 

On the other hand, he doesn’t really engage in challenges, but makes up for it with his pressing. Igor is usually the first source of pressure for his team when the opposition attempts to build from the back, and he is able to force errors as well as recover the ball. 

 

One weakness in his game that could use some work is his aerial game. Although his positioning to challenge the ball in the air tends to be top, the execution of his headers and aerial duels has room for improvement in order for him to have more success on this basis. Especially becoming a more solid threat in the air, the 23-year-old can take his game to another level.

 

Photo:@McLachBot

 

Igor Jesus left Coritiba for Arab football on a high and came back to Brazil in a somewhat different position. But it didn’t take long for the young center-forward to make a case for himself and make sure Brazilians would not only recognize him, but also not forget him again. However, as he takes larger steps in his career, it’s not only about Brazilians anymore. Igor is making a case for himself as a player that’s got what it takes to make another leap in his career, aiming for one of the top European leagues.

 

Botafogo’s majority shareholder, John Textor, has confirmed interest in Jesus coming from the Premier League as well as from La Liga and the Bundesliga. Nonetheless, the center-forward has plenty of reason to stay put and hone his talents at the Alvinegro. Over the past two weeks, Botafogo have beaten Atlético Mineiro 3-1 to secure their first-ever Copa Libertadores title, before following that up with a 1-0 win vs. Internacional.

 

Jesus would assist Jefferson Savarino’s opening goal, whilst Gregore would restore their lead in the 92nd minute to secure a 2-1 win vs. São Paulo on the final day. In doing so, Botafogo won the Brasileirão, or Brazilian top-flight, for just the third time in the club’s 120-year history, having previously won it in 1968 and 1995.

 

Player Analysis: Thiago Almada

 

Although he arrived back in Brazil just a few months ago, Igor has been showing maturity and displaying skills that make him a candidate for a move sooner rather than later. Botafogo surely isn’t in any rush to sell him. The club’s financial situation is probably the best in decades, and given the player’s performances and his development since arriving at the club, it’s hard not to see him continuing to have an important role in Artur Jorge’s team. 

 

As with his return to his home country, a new move for Igor Jesus should depend on his willingness to do so. There’s a lot to like about his game as a whole, even though there is room for him to refine some aspects of his game for him to become an even more complete striker than he already is.

 

Given that he is still 23 and is already proving himself in more competitive and stronger sides, there are good signs that he has great chances to have a successful career in Europe. If given the opportunity to fight for his place, he could become an important player for a big club in the Old Continent in seasons to come.

 

By: Nathalia Tavares / @tavaresnthl

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Daniel Ramalho – AFP

EmailLinkedIn