Thiago Silva thinking of 2022 World Cup, hoping to play into his 40s

Thiago Silva will be turning 37 in a couple months. For most in his profession, that would be another signal that maybe it’s time to start thinking about hanging up their boots, if not already lounging on some sunny beach. For Thiago however, it’s just added motivation to keep going, day by day, game by game, as long as he can.

“From now on I have to live every season. We know that our fitness is not the same of two, three years ago. The time to recover between matches changes a lot. But I will continue to prepare to reach my dreams. The World Cup is still pending [...] it is impossible not to think of the World Cup.”

That World Cup is coming up in 2022, by which time the Brazil national team captain will be 38. Age is but a number, as they say, and as long as that number begins with a 3, Silva’s not interested in anything other than playing.

“It is a bit distant to project the end of my career. I don’t have control over that, but I want to follow what Maldini represented for AC Milan, playing until age 40, 41. I prepared myself for this. I remain at a high level, which makes me very proud.”

-Thiago Silva; source: Miami Herald

Silva certainly has plenty to be proud of in an already glittering career, to which he’s recently added the Champions League title and could be following that up with a Copa América triumph with Brazil. They play Chile in the quarterfinals on Friday.

And then, it’ll be back to the grind at Chelsea, armed with a new one-year contract extension, and plenty of never-ending motivation.