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Thiago Silva is still playing well, even though he is 40 years old. |
At the age of 40, with a hamstring injury that had not yet fully healed, Thiago Silva still played the full 90 minutes, leading Fluminense to overcome Inter Milan in the 1/8 round of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ early morning of July 1. It was not just a match, but a declaration of tenacity, organization and courage that can still make statistics meaningless.
A victory against all predictions
Before the match, the Opta supercomputer gave Fluminense only a 15.6% chance of winning - the lowest in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Inter - with a squad that almost won the European Championship - was rated with an 84.4% chance of advancing. But football is not a game of probability, but a stage for courage, belief and extraordinary moments - things that Thiago Silva and his teammates brought to the fullest.
Fluminense took the lead in the third minute thanks to Germán Cano. They continued to organize an extremely disciplined defensive counter-attack, forcing Inter into a complete stalemate. When the Serie A representative went all out in the second half, it was Hercules who finished the match with a goal that sealed the 2-0 score in injury time. However, in the midst of those brilliant moments, there was a quiet but persistent Thiago Silva, the solid foundation of the entire system.
In the sweltering 30-plus degree heat of Charlotte, Silva - at 40 - played the full 90 minutes with a hamstring that had not fully healed. He not only survived on the pitch, but dominated the space in front of the penalty area. Eight clearances - the most in the game, two interceptions, and a series of defensive command that cannot be seen on the stat sheet - all reflected the class of a leader.
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Thiago Silva plays the role of Fluminense leader. |
Silva doesn't need to scream, doesn't need to highlight tackles. He reads the game, covers, and commands the defense - in the same calm but effective style that he has maintained throughout a career spanning more than two decades.
“It was too hot to play, but we are Fluminense – and today, we deserved it,” Silva said after the match. In that simple sentence was the pride, the steel of a warrior who had been through many top battlefields.
It's not just tactics, it's spirit.
Fluminense had just 32% possession compared to Inter's 68%, but their shots on target, big chances and even expected goals (xG) were equal or better. It was a testament to a well-organised, well-played game and, most importantly, a spirit of excellence.
And it is on that front that Thiago Silva shines more than anyone else. He is no longer the speedy centre-back of Milan or Chelsea, but he still retains his sharp ability to read the game, his tenacity in every move and especially - his ability to inspire teammates who are nearly two decades younger than him.
Fluminense are the second Brazilian team to reach the quarter-finals, after Palmeiras. They are on a run of five clean sheets in their last six games, including impressive results against Dortmund, Mamelodi Sundowns and now Inter. That is no longer a surprise, but a result of Brazilian football: creative, organised and emotional.
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Fluminense excelled in defeating Inter Milan at the FIFA Club World Cup. |
Thiago Silva is the perfect embodiment of that identity. He represents the transition from the golden age to the present, and a reminder that true class is not limited by age – it is determined by passion and heart.
As Fluminense progress to the quarter-finals, the challenge will certainly be even more daunting. But for Thiago Silva - who has played at every level, been doubted, forgotten and then returned to shine - nothing is impossible.
And if Fluminense's fairytale journey continues, there will always be a chapter in the middle of that story for the 40-year-old captain - the one who has never accepted surrender.
Source: https://znews.vn/40-tuoi-thiago-silva-khien-ca-chau-au-nga-mu-post1565043.html
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