About Thiago Silva
Thiago Emiliano da Silva, better known as Thiago Silva, is a Brazilian professional football player with an estimated net worth of $50 million. He was born on September 22, 1984. Silva captained the Brazil national team in addition to playing central defense for Premier League side Chelsea.
Thiago Silva, despite playing for several different teams during his playing career, is now widely regarded as the world’s best central defense. Journeymen players rarely go on to be lauded as greats of the game.
Silva broke the mold when he went to Paris Saint-Germain from AC Milan for 42 million euros. Brazil is not known for generating elite defensive players, with history showcasing a number of attacking talent such as: Pele, Zico, Socrates, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaka.
His career, however, has not always been marked by high transfer costs and widespread recognition. Prior to ultimately landing his big break relatively late in his career, he battled to establish himself in Europe.
Quick Facts
- Name: Thiago Silva
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Date and Place of Birth: September 22, 1984 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Position: Central Defender
- Current Club: Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)
- Previous Club: RS Futebol (2003), Juventude (2004), Porto (2004-2005), Dynamo Moscow (2005-2006), Fluminese(2006-2008), Milan (2009-2012)
- International Career: 2008 to present
Before Career
Silva played with Fluminese as a young player before signing a professional contract with the obscure state team RS Futebol. Before moving to First Division team Juventude, where his coach Ivo Wortmann transformed him into a central defense, he made 25 appearances for the club in the south of Brazil.
Death at the Door
Silva was signed by a European club, like many other Brazilian players in the national league, despite the fact that he never made it past the Porto reserve squad.
Silva moved to the Russian team Dynamo Moscow after a trying year in Portugal, and it was at this moment in his career that he almost lost his life. After receiving a tuberculosis diagnosis, he spent six months in the hospital. It was discovered that if he had stayed in the hospital for two additional weeks, he probably would have passed away from the illness. Silva decided it would be best to retire, but his mother urged him to change his mind.
Back in Brazil
After his miserable time in Europe, Silva decided to go back to his own country and re-sign with Fluminese. Silva’s fortunes improved as Fluminese’s did. During Silva’s three years as manager, the team improved, placing fourth in the Brasileiro, winning the Copa do Brasil, and finished second in the Copa Libertadores in 2008.
Among the honors Silva received were the titles of Fans’ Player of the Season and inclusion in the Brazilian Team of the Season.
Large Investments
Silva’s play grabbed the attention of AC Milan, who in December 2008 signed him for 10 million euros. His time in Italy turned out to be very different from his prior European experience.
He made his Milan debut in a close win over Siena and jumped right into the defense. He went on to solidly establish himself as a top-tier defender in the 2009–10 campaign, making 39 appearances for the Rossoneri and picking up just one caution.
Big-spending Paris Saint-Germain was prominently linked with a transfer for Silva when he shone for Milan in European play, but he quickly agreed to a second contract extension with the Italian club.
Only a few weeks later, Silva committed to the Parisian club, accepting a handsome weekly salary of 185,000 euros.
Silva has won the league twice, the Coupe de la Ligue, the Trophee des Champions, and other trophies in his two seasons at the Ligue 1 team with the most financial resources.
Career in Brazil
Due to his late development, Silva initially failed to make the Brazilian national squad, earning just two caps in exhibition matches against Singapore and Vietnam, before Dunga chose him for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Silva was chosen for the 2010 World Cup, although he did not play in any matches. During Mano Menezes’ rule, Silva solidified his position as Brazil’s top central defender.
Under Luiz Felipe Scolari’s direction, he has played a significant role and led his nation at the 2014 World Cup.
He has 93 total caps for the international team after winning the 2019 edition of the competition on home grounds. Thiago Silva’s net worth is projected to reach $50 million as of 2023. He was acquired by Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 for an alleged fee of €42 million, making him (at the time) the second-most expensive defender in football history (after Rio Ferdinand).
