Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for the Brazil national team and Premier League side Chelsea FC. He is considered to be one of the best defenders of this generation and is renowned for defensive prowess, discipline, and leadership.

Early Life

Thiago Silva was born on September 22, 1984, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He grew up in the neighborhood of Santa Cruz, which is known for its high crime rates and poverty. As a child, Silva faced many challenges, including the death of his father when he was just 13 years old. However, he continued to play football, and it became a source of solace and motivation for him.

Silva's talent on the pitch was evident from an early age, and he eventually caught the attention of Fluminense FC, one of the top football clubs in Brazil. He joined the club's youth academy and quickly rose through the ranks, making his professional debut for the club in 2004.

Club Career

After making his professional debut for Fluminense in 2004, Silva played for a few more seasons with the club before moving to Europe to join Porto in Portugal. He spent just one season with Porto before being loaned to Dynamo Moscow in Russia for the 2006-07 season.

Silva's next move was to Italy, where he signed with AC Milan in 2009. He quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A, helping Milan win the league title in 2011. Silva was rated as the third-best central defender in the Serie A in his very first season for Milan. His next season for the Italian giants was even better, as he was voted the best central defender by the fans and the professionals alike.

In 2012, Silva moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France, where he became the team's captain and a key player in their dominant run of success in Ligue 1. During his time at PSG, he won seven league titles, five Coupe de France titles, and six Coupe de la Ligue titles. He made 315 appearances for PSG, scoring 17 goals.

In 2020, Silva joined Chelsea in the English Premier League on a free transfer. He quickly became an integral part of Chelsea's defense, helping them win the UEFA Champions League in his first season with the club. In his second season, he continued his great run of form and helped them win the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. On February 10, 2023, Silva extended his contract by another year, taking his contract to the end of the 2023–24 season.

International Career

Silva won his first two caps for Brazil in pre-2008 Beijing Olympic friendlies against Singapore and Vietnam. Not starting in any matches, he came on in the 71st minute against Belgium in the third-place match, which sealed the bronze medal for Brazil.

He was a key player in Brazil's defense during the 2013 Confederations Cup, which Brazil won, conceding just three goals throughout the tournament. He was also a part of Brazil's squad that finished fourth in the 2014 World Cup, although he missed the team's infamous 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinals due to injury.

In 2016, Silva was named the captain of the Brazilian national team, taking over from Neymar. Brazil failed to have any impact in the 2015 Copa America and 2018 FIFA World Cup, however in the 2019 edition of the Copa America, he started in the final against Peru, winning the game 3-1 to get his second trophy with Brazil.

In September 2022, Silva became the most capped center-back in the history of the Brazil national team, surpassing Lúcio. To date, he has 113 caps for his country.

Records

• Silva helped AC Milan keep 17 clean sheets during the 2010-11 season, setting a new record for the most clean sheets in a single season.

• During the 2015-16 season with PSG, Silva played a key role in the team's unbeaten run of 36 matches, setting a new record for the longest unbeaten run in a single Ligue 1 season.

• With over 60 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, Silva holds the record for the most appearances by a Brazilian player in the competition.

• In the 2020-21 season with Chelsea, Silva recorded the most successful tackles (44) in the Premier League among all center-backs.

• Silva is currently the most capped Brazilian defender of all time, with over 110 appearances for the national team.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Off the pitch, Silva is known for his philanthropic work. He has established the Thiago Silva Institute, which provides education and sports opportunities to underprivileged children in Brazil. The institute also offers support and assistance to families affected by poverty and social exclusion. In addition to his philanthropy and faith, Silva is also an avid video gamer and has said that playing video games helps him relax and unwind after matches and training sessions.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $45 million.

Family

Silva was born into a family of modest means, his father Geraldo Silva was a carpenter, and his mother, Angela Maria da Silva was a homemaker. His father passed away when he was just 13 years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his siblings alone.

Wife

Silva is married to Isabelle Silva, and they have been together since 2006. The couple got married in 2010, and they have two children together, a son named Isago Silva and a daughter named Iago Silva.

Houses

He is known to have a stunning real estate property in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. It is reported to have amenities like a garden and swimming pool.

He also has a mansion in Paris, France and is now currently living in London, England with his family.