Why Thiago Silva Ranks Among Football’s All-Time Best Defenders

"Thiago Silva is without a doubt the best central defender in the world. He has insolent qualities. It is a symbol of elegance, as was Franz Beckenbauer. He is following in his footsteps"

Those were the words of Brazilian legend Ronaldo when he spoke to Canal+ in 2014. Silva had spent the summer captaining Brazil at their home World Cup, and deserved all the plaudits. Ronaldo’s words might strike one by surprise, but taking a deeper look into Thiago Silva’s career, the statement begins to make more sense.

Early Unseen Battles

It is commonly forgotten that Silva did not play a senior match in Europe until he was 24. His path to becoming the household name that he is today was not as easy as the typical wonderkid’s journey. Growing up in Western Rio de Janeiro, Silva was rejected by numerous academies, before finally settling at third division side RS Futebol Clube.

After a six-month spell in the Brazilian Serie A with Esporte Clube Juventude, Silva was named in the league’s team of the season, catching the eye of Porto scouts. At the age of 20, the defensive midfielder turned centre back completed a €2.5 million move to the Portuguese giants. However, he would only ever play for the reserves, leaving them just a year later.

Moscow called, Dynamo Moscow in particular, Silva searched for new horizons in Russia, but was hit with a sudden shock when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

“The doctors said if another two weeks had passed, I might not have been able to recover. I almost died. This is why, whenever I play, I think back to those moments in Russia."

Silva almost retired altogether, sidelined for 6 months, he would never play a game for Dynamo Moscow, and after a career of constant setbacks, things looked bleak at 21.

20-year-old Thiago Silva moved to FC Porto in 2004.

After playing 14 games for Porto B he was loaned to Dynamo Moscow where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

He spent 6 months at the hospital and decided to retire from football but was persuaded to reconsider by his mother. pic.twitter.com/MLnn5gc7kM

— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) May 3, 2021

The year of 2006 would be when things finally started to look up for the centre half. A return back to Brazil beckoned, reuniting with his old Juventude boss Ivo Wortmann at Fluminense. Silva shone in Brazil once again, as one of the standout players in the Serie A, instantly becoming a fan favourite. He would spend three years at the Maracana, earning his first call-up to the national team and winning the Copa do Brasil in 2007.

Second Shot in Europe

AC Milan landed a €10 million deal for the 24-year-old, fighting off competition from Inter Milan and Chelsea. The Rossoneri’s player of the century, Franco Baresi, was one of the defender’s biggest fans.

"It's difficult to identify where he can still improve. He has already proven to have everything."

Thiago Silva met Paolo Maldini when he was still playing for AC Milan at 41 🍷 pic.twitter.com/JMSZg177x2

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 3, 2023

Joining in January, Silva was unable to play during his first six months in Italy as he was not registered. Instead, he was trained and developed by Paolo Maldini and head coach Carlo Ancelotti, not a bad pair of mentors. The Brazilian continued to receive praise from Milan legends like Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, and Filippo Inzaghi. With the latter claiming that he was the sort of player who was “born once every 100 years”.

Silva would spend three glorious seasons at the San Siro between the ages of 24 and 27. During that time, he would become the captain of Brazil, win a Serie A title, and be named twice in the Serie A team of the year. It had taken a few bumps, but Silva was finally regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic citing him as the best defender he has ever played with.

The Most Expensive Defender Ever

Silva was one of the first marquee signings of PSG’s Qatari ownership era. His reported €42 million transfer fee was a record at the time for a defender; little did he know that he would go on to gain French citizenship and climb to eighth in the club’s all-time appearance list.

Thiago Silva has captained PSG more times than any other player in the club's history, lifting 23 trophies in the process.

Tonight was the 289th and final time wearing the armband. 😢#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/NuZYrSBvoQ

— William Hill (@WilliamHill) August 23, 2020

Some fans will question Silva’s choices to spend his prime years in Paris, joining at 27 and leaving as a 35-year-old. Claiming that another move away from the French capital would have solidified him as one of football’s greatest defenders. However, O Monstro became a legend amongst Parisians, bringing extreme success to the club. His final trophy cabinet at PSG stood at seven Ligue 1, five Coupe de France, and six Coupe de la Ligue titles. On top of that, he was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for seven years straight, and had the chance to captain PSG to their first-ever Champions League Final.

The defender’s sustained success in France would see some special defensive partnerships created with fellow Brazilians David Luiz and Marquinhos. Those pairings translated over to the national team, especially at the 2014 World Cup, Silva’s debut at the global tournament. The centre half was regarded as one of the best players at the tournament, and his absence during their semi-final clash with Germany is often quoted as one of the reasons why Selecao were embarrassed 7-1. After 113 appearances and a Copa America title to his name, Silva retired from international football in 2022, ending up as the nation's fifth most capped player.

Chelsea Champions League Glory

Silva’s move to the Premier League proved any doubters wrong who questioned his ability to play in a more competitive league than France. Especially those who were not around to witness his AC Milan days. At the ripe age of 35, expectations were low with the defender only signing a one-year deal. Yet he led Chelsea to their second Champions League triumph in his inaugural season in West London. Agonisingly, he could only play 39 minutes of the final in Porto due to injury; nevertheless, Silva finally had his hands on one of the highest accolades available.

Frank Lampard summarised it perfectly in 2023. The former coach spoke to the Evening Standard and said:

"In terms of his career, he absolutely walks into that bracket of top centre backs. I keep talking about the impact he is having, and he can be a big deal for us... He's demanding, to be fair, and that's a good thing... He's one of the best in the world in his position, looks after himself, has a really good understanding of the game, wants to affect the people around him and I've got nothing but praise for the career that Thiago's had."

During his Chelsea days, he would hit yet another milestone in the shape of reaching 100 Champions League appearances. His journey in England would last four years, as the Brazilian smashed expectations, making over 150 appearances for the Blues, and winning their Player of the Season award in 2022/23.

Chelsea say goodbye to Thiago Silva 💙 pic.twitter.com/RK665on28j

— GOAL (@goal) May 19, 2024

Longevity & Intelligence

His 15 year stint in Europe came to an end in 2024, returning to the club who took him in all those years ago after he was so close to quitting the sport, Fluminense. In his first six months at the club Silva would lead the Brazilians to 10 straight clean sheets, saving them from relegation, and becoming a hero once again.

Thiago Silva against Borussia Dortmund:

- 90 minutes
- Clean sheet
- 9 duels won (most in match)
- 7 clearances
- 3 interceptions
- 0 times dribbled past
- 8/10 aerial duals won

He's 40 (!) 😳 pic.twitter.com/kzsNULurIG

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 17, 2025

More recently, at the 2025 Club World Cup, he has reminded the world that he is still more than capable, even though his 41st birthday is swiftly approaching. Silva’s longevity, to stay at the top of European football for 15 years, after so many early set backs, is what sets him apart from most. His ability to continue demonstrating those Maldini-taught defensive techniques well into his 30s and 40s, portrays his athletic ability perfectly.

At the time of writing, Silva has played 896 games of football, and has over 150 clean sheets in the Serie A, Ligue 1, and Premier League combined. He has not had a failed signing since his Dynamo Moscow days, creating fond memories at Fluminense, AC Milan, PSG, and Chelsea.

He is the complete package when it comes to a defender with speed, aerial presence, strength, and intelligence. Often exceeding a 92% pass completion rate each season, sitting around the 70-80% mark for his tackling success rate year by year too.

Where does he rank amongst best ever defenders?

To call Silva the greatest defender to live would be a step too far, however it is hard to ignore the amount of players and managers who have lauded the defender as one of the best they’ve worked with or faced. Whilst his eight-year stint in France might have taken the spotlight away from him slightly, his track record at Paris is still outstanding, creating history at the club. Equally his days with AC Milan, Chelsea, and Brazil also support his case.

O Monstro never finished higher than 16th in the Ballon d’Or standings, proving how forward-centric the award is. Hailed as the “Messi of defenders” by Alain Roche in 2013, Silva’s career might be coming to an end, but the memories will remain as one of the greatest defenders of the 21st century.