Thiago Silva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thiago Silva

Silva lining up for Brazil in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Thiago Emiliano da Silva
Date of birth	(1984-09-22) 22 September 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Fluminense
Number	3
Youth career
1998–2000	Fluminense
2000–2001	Barcelona-RJ
2001–2002	RS Futebol
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2003	RS Futebol	25	(2)
2004	Juventude	35	(3)
2004–2005	Porto B	14	(0)
2005–2006	Dynamo Moscow	0	(0)
2006	→ Fluminense (loan)	35	(0)
2007–2009	Fluminense	73	(9)
2009–2012	Milan	93	(5)
2012–2020	Paris Saint-Germain	204	(9)
2020–2024	Chelsea	113	(8)
2024–	Fluminense	15	(0)
International career‡
2008–2012	Brazil Olympic (O.P.)	8	(0)
2008–2022	Brazil	113	(7)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Brazil Copa América Winner 2019 Brazil Runner-up 2021 Brazil FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2013 Brazil Summer Olympics Silver 2012 London Team Bronze 2008 Beijing Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:45, 8 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 August 2024 (UTC)

Thiago Emiliano da Silva (born 22 September 1984) is a Brazilian professional footballer. He plays as a centre-back and is the captain for the Brazilian club Fluminense. Many people think he is one of the best defenders of his time. He is known for being great at defense, playing fairly, and being a strong leader on the field.

Silva started his career in 2002 as a midfielder. He later became a defender. He played for clubs like Porto and Dynamo Moscow. While in Russia, he got very sick with tuberculosis and had to stay in the hospital for six months. After getting better, he joined Fluminense in Brazil and helped them win the Copa do Brasil in 2007. In 2009, Silva moved to AC Milan in Italy and won the 2010–11 Serie A league title.

In 2012, Silva made a big move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France. His transfer was one of the most expensive for a defender at that time. He became PSG's longest-serving captain. With PSG, he won seven Ligue 1 titles and many other cups. He also played in the Champions League final in his last game for PSG. In 2020, Silva joined Chelsea in England. He won the Champions League in his first season there. He also helped Chelsea win the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Silva first played for the Brazilian national team in 2008. He has played over 110 games for his country. He won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in 2008 and a silver medal in 2012. He was captain when Brazil won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also helped Brazil win the Copa América in 2019.

Club Career Highlights

Starting His Football Journey

When Thiago Silva was young, he went to a school in Rio de Janeiro that was connected to the Fluminense team. At 14, he impressed a Fluminense coach. He tried out for the team as a defensive midfielder. But he didn't get many chances to play.

He tried out for other clubs like Madureira and Flamengo. But he was turned down by all of them. After another tryout that didn't work out, he joined a smaller Brazilian club called Barcelona.

The next year, Silva played in a tournament in Italy. There, a coach from Roma noticed him. He wanted Silva to play for Roma, but Silva didn't take the offer. His good performances as a midfielder led him to join Juventude.

Becoming a Defender at Juventude

Silva moved to Juventude in 2004 when he was 20 years old. Here, his coach, Ivo Wortmann, helped him change from a midfielder to a defender. In his only season at Juventude, Silva was seen as a rising star. He was even named one of the best defenders in Brazil by a sports magazine.

His strong play helped Juventude improve a lot in the league. Many clubs noticed his talent. Soon, he was sold to Porto in Portugal.

Facing a Serious Illness

In 2004, Porto bought Silva for €2.5 million. But he only played for their reserve team. After a year in Portugal, he moved to Dynamo Moscow in Russia. There, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This was a very serious illness.

He had to stay in the hospital for six months. Doctors told him that if he had waited two more weeks, he might have died. During his recovery, Silva thought about quitting football. But his mother convinced him to keep playing.

Returning Strong with Fluminense

Silva with Fluminense in 2007

Silva got back into football with help from his old coach, Ivo Wortmann. In 2006, Wortmann became coach at Fluminense and wanted Silva to join him, even with his past health issues. Fluminense signed Silva from Dynamo Moscow.

In 2006, Fluminense didn't do very well, but Silva was seen as one of their best players. This is when he got the nickname "O Monstro" which means "The Monster" in Portuguese.

The year 2007 was much better for Fluminense and Silva. The team finished fourth in the league and had one of the best defenses. More importantly, Fluminense won the 2007 Copa do Brasil for the first time. Silva played a key role, scoring important goals in the knockout stages. Fans recognized him as the best defender in Brazil.

In 2008, Silva became an idol for young Fluminense fans. He played his 100th game for the club and was honored. He was a very important player for Fluminense when they reached the 2008 Copa Libertadores final, but they lost on penalties. His great performances led to him being called up for the Brazilian national team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Many big European clubs wanted to sign him. He decided to join AC Milan in Italy.

Success with AC Milan

Silva moved to Milan for €10 million. He couldn't play competitive games right away, but he trained with the team. He learned new defending skills from legendary player Paolo Maldini and coach Carlo Ancelotti.

First Season: 2009–10

Silva warming up for AC Milan in May 2010

Silva played his first official game for Milan on 22 August 2009. He quickly impressed everyone, with Maldini saying he had the skills of a champion. In November, Silva scored a goal and an own-goal in a win against Lazio. Italian media praised how quickly he adapted to European football.

He had a great performance against Marseille, helping Milan reach the next stage of the UEFA Champions League. Despite a muscle injury that kept him out for a short time, Silva continued to play well. By the end of the season, he was considered one of the best defenders in the 2009–10 Serie A.

Winning Serie A: 2010–11

Silva started the 2010–11 Serie A season by scoring a goal. He faced a few injuries but always came back strong. In a big game against rivals Inter Milan, Silva played a key role in Milan's 1–0 victory. He was even asked to play as a defensive midfielder when the team had many injured players. He did very well in this new role.

Silva was praised for his amazing defensive skills. He helped Milan win the Scudetto (the Serie A title) by beating Inter 3–0. He had a fantastic season, getting only one yellow card in 33 matches. Fans voted him Milan's Player of the Season. Many experts called him the best defender in Serie A and even in Europe.

Final Season in Italy: 2011–12

Silva playing for AC Milan against Siena in December 2011

Milan started the season by winning the 2011 Supercoppa Italiana against Inter. Silva was a top performer. In a Champions League match against Barcelona, Silva scored a late goal to make it a 2–2 draw.

He became the first foreign captain for Milan in 50 years in a match against Chievo. He scored his first goal as captain in that game. Many famous footballers and coaches, like Carlos Alberto Parreira and Nemanja Vidić, called Silva the best defender in the world.

However, Silva got a serious injury in March that kept him out for seven weeks. Without him, Milan struggled and lost the league title to Juventus. Many believed his injury was a turning point in the title race. Despite this, he was still named one of the best defenders in Italy.

Moving to Paris Saint-Germain

After a lot of talks, Thiago Silva joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France in July 2012. The transfer fee was reportedly around €42 million, making him the most expensive defender at that time. Silva always said he was happy at Milan and didn't push to leave.

Record Transfer and First Season: 2012–13

Silva playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2013

When Silva arrived, PSG's president called him the "best defender in the world." His former coach, Carlo Ancelotti, was also at PSG. Silva scored in his first game for PSG, a 4–1 win in the Champions League. He also played well in his first Ligue 1 match.

He was praised for his strong defensive play in big games, including against rivals Marseille. Silva was named in the UEFA Team of the Year for the second year in a row.

He faced another injury that kept him out for almost two months. But when he returned, he played incredibly well. He was described as "a wall" against Barcelona in the Champions League. Ancelotti even said Silva could win the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Silva was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for March. He committed very few fouls throughout the season, showing his discipline.

Winning Many Titles: 2013–14

Silva started the season by winning the 2013 Trophée des Champions with PSG. He signed a contract extension until 2018. He had a period where he scored three goals in seven matches, which is unusual for a defender. He was named in the UEFA Team of the Year for the third time and the FIFPro Team of the Year for the first time.

Many famous players, like Rio Ferdinand and Ronaldo, called Silva the best defender in the world. He continued to put in strong performances in big games, including against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

In April, Silva captained PSG to win the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue Final, their first time winning that cup since 1998. PSG also won the league title, making it their second in a row. Silva was again named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

Winning Four Trophies: 2014–15

Silva's season started a bit slowly after the 2014 World Cup. He also got a serious thigh injury in August that kept him out for nine weeks. When he returned, he played well alongside David Luiz. Despite some inconsistent performances, he was still voted into the 2015 FIFPro World XI.

In 2015, Silva's form improved greatly. He was named man of the match in several games. In a Champions League match against Chelsea, he was praised for his amazing defensive play. He even scored a crucial header in the second leg to help PSG advance after giving away a penalty earlier.

PSG went on to win the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the Coupe de la Ligue. This was their first domestic treble (winning three major trophies in one country). Silva was a key part of this success and was again named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

More Domestic Trophies and European Final: 2015–2020

Silva and David Luiz playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2016

Silva continued to lead PSG to more titles. They won the 2015 Trophée des Champions and started the league season strong. He played a superb role in their defense.

In April 2020, PSG were given the 2019–20 Ligue 1 title because the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was Silva's record seventh Ligue 1 title with the club. In June, PSG announced that Silva would leave the club after the Champions League campaign in August.

His last game for PSG was the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final, which PSG lost 1–0 to Bayern Munich. However, Silva made history by becoming the first Brazilian to captain a team in a Champions League Final.

Joining Chelsea Football Club

Winning the Champions League: 2020–21

Silva celebrating Chelsea winning the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup

On 28 August 2020, Silva joined Premier League club Chelsea on a one-year deal. He made his first appearance for Chelsea on 23 September in a big 6–0 win. Three days later, he made his Premier League debut as captain.

He scored his first goal for Chelsea on 7 November in a 4–1 win. On 3 April 2021, Silva received a red card in a game. Despite this, he led Chelsea's defense to reach the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final. On 29 May, he won his first Champions League trophy with Chelsea after they beat Manchester City 1–0.

In June 2021, Chelsea extended his contract for another year.

Milestones and Departure: 2021–24

On 3 January 2022, Silva extended his contract again until the end of the 2022–23 season. On 11 October 2022, he played his 100th UEFA Champions League game against his old club AC Milan. He extended his contract one more time until the end of the 2023–24 season.

In February 2023, he got a ligament injury that kept him out for a while. In April, he played in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, which Chelsea lost. He hinted that this might have been his last Champions League game.

In May 2023, Silva was named Chelsea Player of the Year, becoming the first defender to win it since John Terry in 2006. He also became Chelsea's oldest goalscorer in November 2023. On 29 April 2024, Chelsea announced that Silva would leave the club after four years.

Returning Home to Fluminense

On 7 May 2024, Thiago Silva agreed to join Fluminense again as a free agent. He signed a two-year deal, returning to his first club after fifteen and a half years away.

International Career with Brazil

Early Days and Olympics

Silva playing for Brazil in a friendly against England in November 2009

Silva in a friendly against Scotland in March 2011

After playing well for Fluminense, Silva was called up to the Brazil squad for the 2007 Copa América. He didn't play in the main team that won the tournament.

He was later chosen to play in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He won his first games for Brazil in friendly matches. He got a bronze medal with Brazil at the Olympics.

Silva played well in a friendly against Portugal in 2008, where Brazil won 6–2. He was praised for stopping Cristiano Ronaldo. Even though he played great for Milan, he wasn't a regular starter for Brazil in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

World Cup, Copa América, and Olympics

Silva was a substitute in all games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Brazil lost in the quarter-finals. He became captain under the new coach, Mano Menezes.

Brazil didn't do well at the 2011 Copa América, losing in a penalty shootout. Silva scored his first goal for Brazil in a friendly against the United States. Brazil also lost in the final of the 2012 Summer Olympics, getting a silver medal.

Winning the Confederations Cup

Silva won his first international trophy at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, which was held in Brazil. The Brazilian team played very well and won the tournament easily. Silva was outstanding throughout the competition and was named one of the best players.

He scored his second goal for Brazil in a friendly win against Portugal in September 2013.

The 2014 World Cup Journey

Silva celebrating Brazil's victory against Colombia at the 2014 World Cup

Silva played in his first World Cup in 2014, which was hosted in Brazil. He was seen as Brazil's best player in their 0–0 draw against Mexico. He also played very well in the final group match. FIFA rated him as one of the best defenders in the tournament.

In the game against Chile, Silva helped set up the first goal. However, he faced criticism for crying before and during the penalty shootout. Some people said he was a weak captain.

Silva scored the first goal in the quarter-final against Colombia. But he got a second yellow card, which meant he couldn't play in the semi-final. Brazil tried to appeal the card, but it was rejected. Many experts, including José Mourinho, said Silva was Brazil's most important player.

Without Silva as captain, Brazil lost badly in the semi-final, 7–1 to Germany. Many people believed Silva's absence was a major reason for this shocking result. In the third-place match, Silva returned, but Brazil lost 3–0 to the Netherlands. Despite the team's struggles, Silva was still named one of the best defenders of the tournament by FIFA.

Copa América and World Cup Appearances

In the 2015 Copa América, Silva scored a goal against Venezuela. However, in the quarter-final, his handball led to a penalty for Paraguay, and Brazil lost in a shootout.

Silva was named captain for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He played all five of Brazil's matches. He scored a goal in their 2–0 win against Serbia in the group stage. Brazil was knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals.

In May 2019, Silva was part of Brazil's squad that won the 2019 Copa América on home soil. He played every minute of the tournament, including the 3–1 final victory against Peru.

He was also in Brazil's squad for the 2021 Copa América. He played in the final, where Brazil lost 1–0 to rivals Argentina. On 10 October 2021, Silva played his 100th game for Brazil. In September 2022, he became the most-capped (most games played) centre-back in Brazil's history.

Silva was named in Brazil's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played in the first two group matches and assisted a goal in the win against South Korea. Brazil was eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

How Thiago Silva Plays

Thiago Silva is known as a complete defender. He is very consistent and can lead any defense. His style of play has been compared to the legendary Italian defender Franco Baresi. Baresi himself said that Silva is the defender who most reminds him of himself.

Silva is one of the fastest defenders in European football. He is strong and good at heading the ball. He also has amazing tactical intelligence and discipline. He understands the game very well and can predict what will happen. This helps him stop opposing players.

He is great at reading the game and tackling players who have the ball. Silva is also good with the ball himself, able to pass and create chances from the back. Many people consider him one of the best defenders of his generation. Even though he has had some injuries, he has shown great longevity in his career.

Personal Life

Thiago Silva is married to Isabele, and they have two sons. He is a Christian. In March 2019, after living in France for almost seven years, Thiago, his wife, and children became French citizens. Thiago can speak Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

In 2022, FIFA released a docuseries called Captains. It followed six national team captains during their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification journeys. Thiago Silva was one of the captains featured, representing Brazil. The series was available on Netflix and FIFA+.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first

List of international goals scored by Thiago Silva

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	30 May 2012	FedExField, Landover, United States	United States	2–0	4–1	Friendly
2	10 September 2013	Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States	Portugal	1–1	3–1
3	4 July 2014	Castelão, Fortaleza, Brazil	Colombia	1–0	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
4	21 June 2015	Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago, Chile	Venezuela	1–0	2–1	2015 Copa América
5	13 June 2017	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia	Australia	2–0	4–0	Friendly
6	27 June 2018	Otkritie Arena, Moscow, Russia	Serbia	2–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup
7	9 June 2019	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Honduras	2–0	7–0	Friendly

Honours and Awards

Thiago Silva and Brazil president Dilma Rousseff with the 2013 Confederations Cup trophy

Fluminense

• Copa do Brasil: 2007

Milan

• Serie A: 2010–11
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2011

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
• Coupe de France: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20; runner-up: 2018–19
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20
• Trophée des Champions: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2019–20

Chelsea

• UEFA Champions League: 2020–21
• UEFA Super Cup: 2021
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
• FA Cup runner-up: 2020–21, 2021–22
• EFL Cup runner-up: 2021–22

Brazil U23

• Olympics Bronze Medal: 2008
• Olympics Silver Medal: 2012

Brazil

• Copa América: 2019; runner-up: 2021
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013

Individual

• Bola de Prata: 2007
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Fan's Player: 2008
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2008
• CONMEBOL South American Team of the Year: 2008
• Samba Gold: 2011, 2012, 2013
• Serie A Team of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: March 2013, October 2019
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Group Stage: 2015
• FIFA FIFPro World11: 2013, 2014, 2015
• FIFA Confederations Cup Dream Team: 2013
• FIFA Confederations Cup Castrol Index Top XI: 2013
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2014, 2018
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2014, 2018
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2015–16
• Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2019
• IFFHS CONMEBOL team of the decade 2011–2020
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2021
• Chelsea Player of the Year: 2022–23
• Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2022–23

See also

In Spanish: Thiago Silva para niños