Most defenders slow down in their thirties. Thiago Silva seems to have treated his as a second prime. The Brazilian was already top class at AC Milan, then spent eight seasons as PSG's defensive leader, and then went to Chelsea and kept going.
At PSG he won 7 Ligue 1 titles. At Chelsea, in 2021, he won the Champions League at the age of 36, when most centre-backs of his generation were on the golf course or the punditry sofa.
How has he lasted so long?
Reading the game is the short answer. His positioning is considered among the best of any defender in football history, and positioning does not fade the way pace does. If you are already in the right place, you do not need to sprint to get there.
He has played at the highest level for over 20 years, for AC Milan, PSG, Chelsea and Fluminense, and he has captained Brazil at more than one World Cup and Copa América.
Winning the Champions League at 36 was the crowning moment of an extraordinary career. For longevity at the very top, few defenders compare with him. Age has been a minor inconvenience, and he is our number 19.
Tomorrow's entry: number 18.
