Thiago Silva fires Flu to semis, cements spot among top defenders | OneFootball

The header that qualified Fluminense for the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil was not just another chapter in Thiago Silva's idolatry at the club, he entered a historic list that shows the size of the defender in world football.

With the goal scored, the Monster reached 62 goals in his career this century, equaling the Spaniard Gerard Piqué and only behind Sergio Ramos (148) and Virgil van Dijk (67) in the ranking of highest scoring defenders since 2001.

The feat gains even more weight by the context, Thiago Silva is 40 years old, returned to Fluminense this season and continues to be decisive in big games, now as a technical and emotional reference of a squad filled with attackers.

Beyond the symbolism of the qualification, the goal shows how Thiago Silva transcends the position. He is a defender, captain and, often, top scorer. Among all Brazilian players in this position this century, none have achieved such consistent numbers across clubs and the national team.

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