Original article from December 2025.

Nine years ago, in Belo Horizonte, after a Brazil-Argentina match (3-0), you told us: 'I hope to play until I'm 40, like Maldini!' So, it wasn't a joke.

(Smiles.) It's funny because we were just talking about that with my Fluminense team this morning (October 24th). We discussed Paolo Maldini and the end of my career. The idea of playing for as long as possible began when I arrived at AC Milan in 2009. Maldini was in his final six months, and I couldn't play yet. But Carlo Ancelotti (the coach) asked me to be present at every game, both at San Siro and away, to closely observe his preparation, warm-up, and routine. That's when I realized that to last, you had to make many sacrifices. From then on, I changed my mindset and decided to become an athlete, not just a footballer.

An athlete who seems to rejuvenate throughout his career, so much so that Thomas Tuchel, your coach at PSG and Chelsea, nicknamed you Benjamin Button, after the character in the book and film who ages in reverse...

He started with that nickname when we reunited at Chelsea (in January 2021). Fans even jokingly called me Brad Pitt. Gradually, 'O Monstro' became 'Thiago Button.' It made me happy because it meant my sacrifices were visible. It motivated me to prolong my career, but on the other hand, it increased the pressure. I had to prepare even more methodically. Such praise comes at a price. Now I need to maintain my level and live up to that reputation.

You achieved this by investing early in high-tech equipment, such as a hyperbaric chamber, to improve recovery.

Ten or fifteen years ago, a hyperbaric chamber cost $25,000. At the time, many considered it an unnecessary expense. If I hadn't invested so much, I would have retired by now.

Today, many are inspired by your methods: Marquinhos (PSG), Alexsandro (Lille), Andrey Santos (Chelsea).

When Andrey came to my house (in London), he was amazed. I told him: 'Do you think I'm at this level just because my name is Thiago Silva?' He saw my chef, the recovery equipment, the attention to sleep. He understood the price to pay. I'm proud to influence these young players, to encourage them to prepare better to prolong their careers.

Why couldn't you influence Neymar?

But he has everything: a hyperbaric chamber, ice baths, a chef, a physiotherapist, a fitness coach… People judge him wrongly. I assure you he prepares diligently; he's determined to be at his peak for the World Cup. Don't forget he's returning from a serious left knee injury (ruptured cruciate ligaments in October 2023, after a match against Uruguay for the national team). After that, physical problems are inevitable. Look at Rodri! The problem is that Santos needs to save themselves and they need Neymar, even if it's with one leg. Besides, Neymar is like me: he wants to play all the time. I told him: "You're not the Neymar of ten years ago anymore. You need to preserve yourself." Before one of his recent physical issues (right thigh in September, after a meniscus injury in his left knee at the end of November), he felt great. But that's when you get injured. You feel so good that you push too hard, and it happens. Contrary to what many think, Neymar does what he needs to.

“Neymar-Mbappé was a beautiful story. I didn't understand why they fell out. It's disappointing.”

Even in the invisible preparation? "Eat well, sleep well," as Kylian Mbappé used to say?

At one point, he enjoyed his breaks and holidays. He was single and had a different rhythm than mine; I'm married and more reserved. Today he's with Bruna [Biancardi], they have a young daughter, and he hardly goes out. But people have stuck an image on him and only talk about past scandals.

At PSG, Mbappé and Neymar got along well at first, but their relationship deteriorated. Why?

It was a beautiful story, actually. I remember the Trophée des Champions against Monaco, with Kylian Mbappé, in Morocco (PSG's 2-1 victory on July 29, 2017, in Tangier). At the end of the match, Mbappé wanted to talk to me. He said: 'Even if Neymar signs, I also want to come and be part of this team. If you can, talk to the president.' Both arrived that summer, and their relationship was incredible. They were connected, they were among those who had the most fun day-to-day. I didn't understand why they fell out. I was no longer at PSG. I don't know which of the two caused this separation, but I was sad. They are two incredible guys, and it's disappointing that it ended that way.

Returning to you: to explain your longevity, there's also your hatred of defeat. One day, Alex (at PSG from 2012 to 2014) recounted: "After a bad game, when we drove back together from Parc des Princes to home, he wouldn't say a word..."

(Laughs.) When you do everything right, prepare perfectly, and then lose, it creates enormous frustration. A real pain. I don't accept defeat, not even at 41. If I didn't have that in me, I would have stopped playing already. I know these are my last months of competition, and I want to win until the very last day. Now I want to complete the cycle and win the Copa do Brasil, like in 2007 (semifinal against Vasco, December 15).

Have the criticisms, which have always accompanied you, finally been forgotten?

I received many throughout my career, some justified, others not. It's not easy to overcome. At PSG, it made me sad. When we were eliminated from the Champions League, there always had to be a culprit, and it fell on me, as captain. But it affects me less than before. It's more disappointing when the attacks come from former players, much more so than when they come from commentators or journalists who have never been on the field. But that's how it has to be. I'm preparing my children, Iago and Isago. They will have to deal with criticism and comparisons to their father. They need to be mentally prepared.

Thiago Silva's Biography
THIAGO EMILIANO DA SILVA.
41 years old. Born September 22, 1984, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
1.83 m; 79 kg.
Centre-back.
Brazilian international (113 caps, 7 goals).
Career: RS Futebol (November 2002-December 2003), Juventude (2004), Porto (January-June 2005), Dynamo Moscow (July-December 2005), Fluminense (January 2006-December 2008), AC Milan (January 2009-2012), PSG (2012-August 2020), Chelsea (2020-2024), Fluminense (since July 2024).
Titles: Copa América 2019; Confederations Cup 2013; Olympic silver 2012, Olympic bronze 2008; Champions League 2021; Club World Cup 2021; UEFA Super Cup 2021; Serie A 2011; Ligue 1 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020; Copa do Brasil 2007; Coupe de France 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020; Coupe de la Ligue 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020; Supercoppa Italiana 2011; Trophée des Champions 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Among the criticisms from former players, there were those from Romário, in L'Équipe, in 2015, who accused him of "lacking personality to play for the national team."

The hardest part to swallow is that he was my idol. I grew up wanting to be Romário. When you're criticized by your role model, it hurts. I ended up losing a bit of the admiration I had for him. Today, with more experience and perspective, I understand and respect his opinion. If I meet him, I'll greet him. But I'm not amnesic; I don't forget.

There were also misunderstandings with Brazilian fans, especially at the 2014 World Cup, but some are calling for his return for the 2026 World Cup...

I hear those kinds of comments. It makes me happy that people are thinking of me returning to the national team at 41. It's a source of pride. It means I'm doing my job well. The criticisms from 2014 could have made me stop playing if I didn't have the necessary mentality. Fans said I was a crybaby, mentally weak (even though I was suspended and absent from the historic 1-7 defeat to Germany in the semi-final)! But if that were true, I would have given up when I was in the hospital in Russia (suffering from tuberculosis in 2005, at Dynamo Moscow)! I spent 6 months alone in a small room, and then the doctor wanted to remove part of my lung. I refused. How could I achieve my dream with a piece of my lung missing?

Even so, you are shaking off that reputation of being a "crybaby" that haunted you.

It's fading, but it still lingers in people's minds. When I decided to return to Brazil, I knew I would carry the reputation of 'Thiago the crybaby.' I was right, because every away game I hear: 'Thiago, you have no mentality! Thiago, you just cry!' It's a way to throw me off my game, to distract me. I expected it. So, when some fans and the press say the national team needs me, in a way, I show how mentally, technically, and physically strong Thiago is.

“I'm proud to have been part of PSG. And I'm even prouder to see the team shine.”

Dream of returning to the National Team and his time at PSG

Thiago Silva doesn't hide his desire to wear the Brazil jersey again, even more than three years after his last call-up:

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't part of my plans. But I haven't discussed a possible return with Carlo (Ancelotti, appointed coach in May). Recently, I visited him at the CBF offices, purely out of courtesy. We didn't talk about my presence in the squad. Carlo knows he can count on me and what I can offer. I'm at his disposal.

His contract with Fluminense runs until June 2026, not December 2025. He admits there was a goal behind it:

 (Laughs) Yes, it was a bit premeditated. I haven't been called up since the 2022 World Cup, but I thought it wouldn't be impossible. That's why I signed for two years at Fluminense, aiming for the World Cup. Imagine ending my career with a World Champion title? It would be the absolute dream and the perfect moment to stop.

Before PSG, Thiago could have played for another French club. He recalls:

Bordeaux! In 2004, Ricardo, Fluminense's coach, discovered me at Juventude. When he went to Bordeaux, he unsuccessfully asked president Jean-Louis Triaud to sign me. Whenever I saw him, I thanked him for being kind to me. Honestly, I never imagined playing in France or even for PSG. In 2012, at AC Milan, there was no chance of leaving. But during the Olympic period, PSG put pressure on me. I didn't want to go, but Adriano Galliani told me: 'Thiago, I'm sorry, we have financial problems.' Doctor Éric Rolland came to the Sheraton to conduct medical exams in secret, but he stood out in his PSG suit (laughs). I signed, and the first season was difficult, but then I felt at home. The club and Nasser al-Khelaïfi did everything to help me adapt.

About his 8 years in Paris:

What remains is gratitude for everything PSG allowed me to experience. I wrote a very important chapter of my career there. I never imagined staying so long, becoming French (since 2019), and winning so many titles. I have many memories with the fans, but also a lot of pressure and sadness, especially after Champions League eliminations – 6-1 against Barça (2017) or 3-1 against Manchester United (2019). Those were critical moments. But I'm proud to have been part of this team and even more so seeing it shine today or observing the facilities where the players train. In 2012, we had almost nothing: the gym was tiny. With Ibra, Maxwell, Pastore, Sirigu, Thiago Motta, Verratti, Lavezzi, and the French players Sakho, Jallet, Douchez, we evolved everything. We participated in the changes at the training center, the restaurant, and the gym. Today, seeing how it is, is simply fantastic.

Which PSG team did you enjoy playing for the most? Laurent Blanc's or Thomas Tuchel's?

In terms of numbers and titles, I think we won the most with Blanc. Eight titles in two years (actually, 11 in three years), right? But Tuchel's playing ideas were more interesting. We played great matches and reached the Champions League final in 2020. In any case, Blanc and Tuchel were decisive for the club's evolution, which understood it needed a leader who enjoyed playing beautiful football. Today, they've found one of the best in the world with Luis Enrique, who knows how to manage a group and plays wonderful football. His playing philosophy is deeply ingrained in the players' minds. For me, every club should have a well-defined playing identity and a coach who matches that idea.

Your time in Paris was also marked by your friendship with Lucas and Marquinhos.

Yes, these are the best moments football gives us. In fact, what spoils everything are the matches (laughs). The best part is the daily life, the jokes, the friendship, the camaraderie… I've played with hundreds of players, and lifelong friends aren't that many. Lucas and Marquinhos are part of that group. When Marquinhos arrived (summer of 2013), Lucas wouldn't stop teasing him. In training, he'd invent anything and say he had to play only with his left foot, just to provoke (laughs).

“I think we won the most with Laurent Blanc. But Thomas Tuchel's playing ideas were more interesting.”

There was also a surprising divorce, with Leonardo (former PSG sporting director). Looking back, do you understand it?

 No, not to this day. It remains a disappointment for me. When he convinced me to sign with AC Milan, I had a pre-contract with another team where I could play immediately, without waiting six months as happened at Milan. We had a relationship of trust. So, for him to do what he did later… During the pandemic, in the spring of 2020, Leonardo called me and informed me that I wouldn't be part of the project for the following season. I was disappointed, but I agreed to play three more months (unlike Cavani) to compete in the Champions League Final 8 in August. We lost the final to Bayern (0-1). The next day, Leonardo asked me if I had signed elsewhere, perhaps to offer me a renewal. Strange. Three months earlier, he wasn't counting on me. It's as if everything I had done in eight years was worth less than my three games in the Final 8! He knew me well, and I found his attitude even more disappointing.

When you win the Champions League the following year with Chelsea (1-0 against City), do you think of PSG?

 I dreamed so much of achieving that (against Bayern) to leave with a sense of accomplishment. So, when I won with Chelsea, the first thing that came to my mind, yes, was PSG, Marquinhos, and the others who failed with me. During the celebrations, Neymar and Marquinhos congratulated me via video; it was nice.

And when Marquinhos finally lifts the European trophy last May, he thinks of you...

(Emotional.) When I left, I knew PSG was in good hands with "Marqui," that he would fulfill the captain's role as he should, and that one day he would win the Champions League. So, for him to have thought of me when lifting the trophy… (He gets tears in his eyes.) He knows how much we suffered and how important it was for me to win that with PSG. When he lifted it, my heart overflowed with emotion. "Marqui" is one of PSG's biggest idols. He managed to make history at the club (over 500 games played, a record). And I know I'm part of that too.

Do you like this PSG 2025 team?

 For a football enthusiast like me, it's a joy to watch this team. What impresses me is how they operate. Everything seems automatic. They know what the other will do: who will create space, move centrally, create numerical superiority… It fascinates me. I've already spoken with "Marqui" to try and understand how they put this puzzle together. I even asked for some drills, but they can't give them to me (laughs). You can clearly see the coach's work. No matter who's on the field, his hand is there. There's strategy and a philosophy of play.

Behind the Scenes of the Interview
Location: Fluminense training center auditorium, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Duration: More than two hours, including interview and photo session.
“I don't talk much, but when I do, I take my time.”
Attire: Black shorts and Club 1984-Paris-France printed t-shirt.
Beverage consumed: Water.
Level of rapport with the interviewer: 9/10.
Several meetings since 2012, in Belo Horizonte, Rio, and Paris.
Self-assessment score: 9/10.
Score given by France Football: 10/10.
Thiago Silva offered us a long and beautiful conversation, passionate and sometimes emotional.
The three interviews he would like to read in France Football: “Tuchel, Tite, and Lampard.”

As a future coach (he completed some diplomas in England and Brazil), does Luis Enrique's work fascinate you?

Yes, his work will inspire me. I will certainly absorb it. I admire what Luis Enrique does at PSG, but I don't close the door to other ideas. My way of seeing the game also aligns with what Guardiola or Tuchel do. I also like De Zerbi's work, even if he coaches our rival (Marseille). You have to find your way to win without losing your playing philosophy.

Could you coach a Ligue 1 team?

When I become a coach, I've set a goal: to coach all the teams I've played for. So, coaching PSG one day, yes, it's possible, and it would be magical. Maybe it will never happen, but I've put that goal in my head. Before thinking about that, I want to finish my playing career properly.

And return to greet the Parc des Princes?

Returning to the Parc to greet the fans interests me. I didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye. At Chelsea, I had a beautiful farewell party. It would be nice to return to the Parc and say goodbye to the fans. And, who knows, maybe see you soon?