Considered to be one of the best central defenders of his generation Thiago Silva celebrity heights is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Chelsea and is the captain of the Brazil national team. Silva began his senior club career in 2002 playing as a midfielder for RS Futebol, and transitioned to a defensive position while at Juventude; he then signed with Porto in 2004, at age 19, and moved to Dynamo Moscow on loan, where he was hospitalized with a near fatal bout of tuberculosis. After recovering, he joined Fluminense and won a Copa do Brasil. In 2009, Silva moved to AC Milan for a reported fee of €8 million and won a Serie A title. In 2012, Silva was the subject of a then-record ociation football transfer when he signed for Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer worth up to €42 million, becoming the most expensive defender ever at the time. There, he won seven Ligue 1 titles, six Coupes de la Ligue, five Coupes de France, and reached the UEFA Champions League final. Silva holds the record as the club's longest ever serving captain and ranks eight-highest all-time for appearances. In 2020, he signed for Chelsea on a free transfer, and won the UEFA Champions League. Silva made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2008, at age 23, and has since earned over 90 caps, including appearing in seven major tournaments. He won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, and later served as captain as Brazil won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and finished fourth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Silva later helped his country win the 2019 Copa América. Silva has been recognized as a complete defender by his peers and critics. He has been described as a consistent defender, without any flaws, and someone who can lead any defence. A leader from the back, Silva's play has led him to be compared to legendary Italian defender Franco Baresi. Baresi, regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, has gone on record to state that Silva is the defender who most resembles him, and said in June 2012 that Silva was his "heir". Although he has been criticised at times in the media over his mentality, his leadership skills are also apparent through his success in captaining both Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain.