Thiago Emiliano da Silva (born 22 September 1984) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Chelsea and captains the Brazil national team. Considered one of the best defenders in the world and one of the greatest of all time, he is known for his defensive prowess, discipline, and leadership.

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 association 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 2020 UEFA Champions League Final. Silva holds the record as the club's longest ever serving captain and ranks eighth-highest all-time for appearances. In 2020, he signed for Chelsea on a free transfer, and won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club.

Silva made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2008, at age 23, and has since earned over 100 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.

Silva is heralded as one of the fastest defenders in European football, and has been described as a strong defender with good aerial ability. He combines these physical gifts with a phenomenal tactical intelligence, discipline, and knowledge of the game, as well as an excellent positional sense, which allows him to excel in one on one situations. Thanks to his abilities, he excels at reading the game and at anticipating plays, and he is excellent at closing down and tackling opposing players in possession of the ball. Hailed as the best of the new breed of defenders — composed in possession, able to create chances for his team from the back with his passing — Silva is a technically gifted defender who is universally praised for his ability, being voted as one of the top two central defenders in Europe for three consecutive years; he is considered to be one of the best defenders of his generation, with Rio Ferdinand and Ronaldo both describing him as the best defender in the world in 2014. Although predominantly a centre-back, Silva has also been used in midfield as either a central of or defensive midfielder. Despite his ability, however, he has also struggled with injuries throughout his career; notwithstanding these difficulties, he has also drawn praise for his longevity.

CLUB

Fluminense
Copa do Brasil: 2007

Milan
Serie A: 2010–11
Supercoppa Italiana: 2011

Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018-19, 2019-20
Coupe de France: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019-20
Coupe de la Ligue: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019-20
Trophee des Champions: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2019–20

Chelsea
UEFA Champions League: 2020–21
UEFA Super Cup: 2021
FA Cup runner-up: 2020–21, 2021-22
FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
EFL Cup runner-up: 2021–22

INTERNATIONAL

Brazil U23
Olympics Bronze Medal: 2008
Olympics Silver Medal: 2012

Brazil
FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013
Copa America: 2019

INDIVIDUAL

Bola de Prata:
2007

Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A Best Fan's Player:
2008

Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A Team of the Year:
2008

South American Team of the Year:
2008

Samba d'Or:
2011, 2012, 2013

Serie A Team of the Year:
2010–11, 2011–12

Ligue 1 Team of the Year:
2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017-18, 2018-19

Ligue 1 Player of the Month:
March 2013, October 2019

UEFA Team of the Year:
2011, 2012, 2013

UEFA Champions League Team of the Group Stage:
2015

FIFA FIFPro World XI:
2013, 2014, 2015

FIFA FIFPro World XI 2nd team:
2016, 2017, 2018

FIFA Confederations Cup All-Star Team:
2013

FIFA Confederations Cup Castrol Index Top XI:
2013

FIFA World Cup All-Star Team:
2014, 2018

FIFA World Cup Dream Team:
2014

UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season:
2015–16

FIFA World Cup Dream Team:
2018

Copa America Team of the Tournament:
2019

IFFHS CONMEBOL team of the decade 2011–2020

FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball:
2021