‘Monster’ Thiago Silva, 40, inspiring Fluminense on Club World Cup run

At 40 years old, Thiago Silva is proving age is just a number as he inspires Fluminense in their historic Club World Cup campaign.

After helping save the club from relegation in December, Silva celebrated by walking the length of the pitch on his knees in an act of gratitude. Now, he will lead Fluminense into Tuesday’s semi-final against his former club Chelsea.

Fluminense have kept three clean sheets with Silva at the heart of defence, defeating Inter Milan and Al-Hilal to reach this stage.

Silva’s connection to Chelsea remains strong. His two sons, Isago and Iago, still play in the club’s academy and live in London.

“I’m not a spy,” Silva joked when asked about Chelsea’s current setup. “I don’t know [Enzo] Maresca that well, but I do know a lot of players there. I talk to them practically every week.

“We just hope to have a perfect day to play our best game. It will be special for me, but even more special if we win.”

Silva’s remarkable journey

Nicknamed ‘O Monstro’ (The Monster) for his commanding style, Silva’s path to football greatness has been anything but easy.

Raised in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Silva was abandoned by his father at age five. At 20, after joining Porto, he fell gravely ill during a trip to Thailand and was later diagnosed with tuberculosis. Doctors said if he had delayed treatment by two weeks, he could have died.

After a year out of football, Silva returned to Brazil to rebuild his career at Fluminense before becoming one of the world’s best defenders at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

He went on to win 113 caps for Brazil and lift major titles with Chelsea, including the Champions League in 2021.

‘A coach on the pitch’

During a cooling break in Fluminense’s win over Inter Milan, Silva was seen suggesting a tactical switch and player adjustments. Manager Renato Gaucho agreed, and Fluminense sealed one of the greatest results in their 123-year history.

“Thiago is a monster on the pitch,” said Renato. “His experience is critical – he’s essentially a coach out there. He talks to his teammates constantly, especially in these major matches.”

Silva, who is working on his coaching badges, responded:

“My exchange with him was important. Not all coaches have the humility to understand what the player feels.”

Chelsea memories and legacy

Silva still holds Chelsea close to his heart:

“I am grateful for everything I went through. Chelsea were very special in my life. I won one of the biggest titles of my career there.”

Former teammate Marc Cucurella added:

“He’s a football legend. He texted me before this game saying, ‘Let’s go, hopefully we’ll see each other in a few days.’”

As Fluminense prepare for their showdown with Chelsea, Silva’s leadership and resilience are proving that even in the twilight of his career, he remains a monster of the game.