Brazilian defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Igor Thiago have been named in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Premier League Team of the Year for the 2025/26 season. The players' union announced the award winners on Tuesday, August 25, as reported by Spacemoney.
Both players featured for the Brazil national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Gabriel, a centre-back for Arsenal, was a key part of his club's title-winning campaign. Thiago, a striker for Brentford, finished the season as the league's second-top scorer. This individual recognition highlights the quality available to the Brazil head coach in the current squad.
How did Gabriel Magalhães perform this season?
Gabriel Magalhães made 32 Premier League appearances in the 2025/26 campaign. He started 30 of those matches. The defender scored three goals and provided four assists, contributing directly to the league's most solid defence. His consistency was key for Arsenal as they secured the title after a close race with Manchester City.
He was part of the Brazil squad that competed in last year's World Cup. His high-level experience in England is a significant asset for the national team as they look to rebuild on the international stage. Brazil's next fixtures are already scheduled and can be viewed on our fixtures page.
What were Igor Thiago's stats for Brentford?
Igor Thiago had an outstanding season for Brentford, appearing in all 38 Premier League rounds. The forward found the net 22 times and registered one assist. This output placed him second in the race for the Golden Boot, behind only Manchester City's Erling Haaland, who scored 27 goals.
Like Gabriel, Igor Thiago was also called up to represent Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. His goalscoring prowess in the world's most competitive league is a positive for the Seleção's attack. The productivity of Brazilian players abroad can be tracked on our stats page.
Who else made the PFA Team of the Year?
The season's best XI was dominated by Arsenal and Manchester City, the top two teams in the league. Champions Arsenal had five representatives: besides Gabriel, goalkeeper David Raya, defender William Saliba, defender Jurrien Timber, and midfielder Declan Rice were selected. Raya won the Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets.
Runners-up Manchester City placed four players: full-back Nico O’Reilly, midfielder Rayan Cherki, forward Antoine Semenyo, and top scorer Erling Haaland. Semenyo scored 17 goals after a mid-season transfer from Bournemouth. Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United completed the team and was voted the Players' Player of the Year.
What does this award mean for Brazil?
The inclusion of two Brazilians in the Premier League Team of the Year underscores the maintained high standard among the country's players abroad. Gabriel Magalhães and Igor Thiago demonstrated consistency in one of the world's most demanding leagues. This provides the Brazil manager with more quality options for selection.
The awards ceremony was held at the Opera House in Manchester after the first round of the 2026/27 Premier League season. Recognition by fellow professionals is among the most valued honours in English football. For the national team, it is a sign that its squad members are competing at the highest level, an essential factor for future campaigns in international tournaments.
