 Silva lining up for Brazil in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thiago Emiliano da Silva[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 September 1984[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2012 | Brazil Olympic (O.P.) | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2022 | Brazil | 113 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:14, 27 November 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 who plays as a centre-back for and captains Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Fluminense. Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, he is known for his defensive prowess, discipline, and leadership.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Silva began his senior club career in 2002 playing as a midfielder for RS Futebol, and transitioned to a defensive position while at Juventude; he then signed with Porto in 2004, at age 19, and moved to Dynamo Moscow on loan, where he was hospitalized with a near fatal bout of tuberculosis. After recovering, he joined Fluminense and won a Copa do Brasil in 2007. In 2009, Silva moved to AC Milan for a reported fee of €8 million and won the 2010–11 Serie A title.
In 2012, Silva was the subject of a then-record football deal when he signed for Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer worth up to €42 million, becoming the most expensive defender ever at the time. There, he would become the club's longest serving captain, winning seven Ligue 1 titles, six Coupes de la Ligue, five Coupes de France, and playing in the final of the UEFA Champions League, which served as his last PSG appearance. He currently ranks eighth in all-time appearances for the club. In 2020, the 36-year-old Silva joined Chelsea on a free transfer, winning the Champions League in his first season, and both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in his second.
Silva made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2008 at age 23, and has since received over 110 caps, including appearances in eight major tournaments. He earned a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in 2008 and a silver in 2012, before serving as captain for Brazil on home soil as they won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and finished fourth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Silva was also a member of the team that won the Copa América in 2019 and finished runners-up in 2021. He has not been called up to the Brazilian national football team since December 2022, but has not officially announced his retirement.[9]
- ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
- ^ "Thiago Silva". Chelsea FC. 13 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Maria (3 January 2022). "Top 10 Best Defenders in The World in 2022 - Best Football Defenders". Sports Virsa. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ Das, Sourav (8 February 2022). "Top 10 Best Football Defenders In The World 2022 ⚽". SportsBrowser. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ FeedMeGoal (29 March 2022). "Top 5 Best Defenders 2022". Feed Me Goal. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Top 10 Best Defenders in the World 2022". Notice. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ Hepburn, Daniel (9 April 2020). "Fans have ranked the 50 best defenders in football history - Franz Beckenbauer 2nd". GiveMeSport. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "The 25 Greatest Defenders Of All Time Have Been Named And Ranked By Fans". SPORTbible. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Thiago Silva provides update on his Brazil future". 26 October 2023.