He was regarded as one of the best deep-lying playmakers in the modern game due to his range of passing, combined with his agility and technique.
Thiago emerged through the youth ranks at Barcelona and properly broke into the first team during the 2010/11 campaign, which saw his side claim both the LaLiga and Champions League trophies.
Another Spanish title, a FIFA Club World Cup and a Copa del Rey followed over his next two seasons at the Spanish outfit before he moved to the Bundesliga, joining Bayern Munich in 2013.
Bayern lifted the Bundesliga title in each of his seven campaigns with the club, as well as four German Cups and another Club World Cup and their Champions League victory during the 2019/20 campaign.
The midfielder's final season at Bayern was his most successful on a personal level as he was part of the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season for 2019/20 and was voted eighth in the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award.
In September 2020, Thiago sealed a move to Liverpool for £20million with further potential of £5million in add-ons.
But after just 98 appearances and four injury-plagued years with the Reds, he decided to retire at the end of the 2023/24 season at the age of just 33.
In July 2024, he joined Barcelona as an assistant coach.
In May 2009, Thiago made his debut for Barca at the age of 18 against RCD Mallorca.
His first goal for the club came in February 2010, where he replaced Yaya Toure as a substitute and scored in a 4-0 victory against Racing de Santander.
During his time at Barcelona, Thiago won seven trophies with the Spanish side including two La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey. He also won the 2011 UEFA Champions League with the club, but was an unused substitute in the final against Manchester United.
Since his senior career began at Barca, Thiago had two huge injuries which hampered his growth at the club.
In September 2009, he suffered from a knee problem which kept him out of the side for nine games.
As he was becoming more involved in the starting line-up, in October 2020, he tore the internal collateral ligament in his right knee. This kept him out for a further 11 games.
Unfortunately for Thiago, he was competing for the same position with Xavi and Andres Iniesta, who were part of the 'golden generation' which brought huge success to Barcelona.
Alongside Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta became almost irreplaceable which resulted in him finding himself on the bench for the majority of his Barcelona career.
Thiago was at Barcelona for four years and made 68 appearances, scoring seven goals before he moved to Bayern Munich in 2013.
Thiago made his Bayern debut in July 2013, in a 4-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup.
However, his debut season was cut short as a knee ligament injury sustained against Hoffenheim put him on the sidelines for over a year.
The 2016/17 season was a standout campaign for Thiago as he scored nine goals and nine assists, as the club secured a domestic double. He was rewarded with a new four-year deal in April 2018.
In Thiago's last season, Bayern completed a European treble. The German club beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final, with Thiago playing 86 minutes of the game before being substituted.
He won his seventh consecutive Bundesliga title, alongside his fourth DFB-Pokal trophy, as Bayern beat Bayer Leverkusen in the final.
Due to him only having one year left on his contract at Bayern Munich, Liverpool managed to purchase him for a relatively reasonable fee.
He made his Liverpool debut against Chelsea in the Premier League, coming on at half time in a 2-0 victory.
Making 75 successful passes, Thiago recorded the most completed passes by a player in a half of Premier League football since Opta started producing passing statistics in 2003.
His playing time was been limited due to a knee injury which he suffered in the Merseyside Derby in October 2020, which led to Richarlison being sent off.
Thiago won the 2022 FA Cup with Liverpool, scoring his penalty in their shootout victory over Chelsea.
He was named in the 2021/22 Premier League Team of Year as Liverpool just missed out of a historic quadruple after finishing second in the league, runners-up in the Champions League and winning both domestic cup competitions.
But, his four years at Liverpool were injury-plagued and he made just 98 appearances for the Reds. He managed just six minutes of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
He retired from playing on July 8, 2024 at the age of just 33.
He wrote on X: “I will always be willing to give back what I have been given and I am grateful for the time I have enjoyed.
“Thank you, football. And to all who accompanied me and made me a better player and person along the way. See you soon, Thiago.”
Thiago's youth career for Spain was one of huge success. He was an ever-present figure in the squad which won the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship - scoring the second goal and receiving the man of the match award in a 2-0 victory against Switzerland in the final.
In June 2013, Thiago scored his only career hat-trick in the final against Italy as Spain took their fourth title with a 4-2 win.
His first competitive game for his national side came in September 2011 in a EURO 2012 qualifying match against Liechtenstein.
However, injuries have blighted Thiago's senior career for Spain so far. He missed the Euro 2012 and the 2012 Olympics in London due to injury.
Thiago was part of the initial 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, however, a ligament injury meant he had to withdraw from the squad. His first goal for Spain arrived against Albania in a World Cup qualifier in October 2017.
He was also selected for the Euro 2020 tournament, but wasn't picked for the World Cup in 2022.
The pair got married in June 2015 and have son, Gabriel, and daughter Siena together. Thiago was born into football royalty as he is the son of former Brazilian footballer and 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho.
When his father was at Valencia, Thiago used to watch him train when he was just three years old. His mother, Valeria Alcantara, was a former Brazilian volleyball player.
The two brothers came through the ranks at Barcelona, at the famous La Masia academy, with Rafinha also playing in central midfield. Mazinho confessed that Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign Thiago in the 2020 summer transfer window but ended up signing Rafinha.
Thiago signed a four-year contract with Liverpool in September 2020. According to Sportekz, he earns £210,000 a week, with his base salary accumulating to £10million. The deal made him the second-highest paid player at Liverpool - behind Mohamed Salah. Thiago's net worth is reportedly $23.9million.
Thiago Alcantara has left his role as one of Xavi's assistant coaches at Barcelona and has been replaced by Arnau Blanco, who was the coach of the U-16s.
Having recently called time on his playing career at the age of 33, Thiago Alcantara is set to spend the coming weeks as part of Hansi Flick's Barcelona staff in order to train as a coach.
Former Barcelona, Liverpool and Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara has made the decision to retire from football.
Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp has rejected suggestions he rushed back players recently after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara and Dominik Szoboszlai all aggravated their injuries again.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted Thiago Alcantara would play again this season but did not know whether fellow midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai would be fit for this month's Carabao Cup final.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has suffered another injury setback after playing just 10 minutes of his comeback.
Planet Sport Bet ambassador Robbie Savage thinks Newcastle United can finally get the better of Liverpool in a Premier League fixture.
