Two players enter the 2022 FIFA World Cup with goals in consecutive World Cups for Brazil.

One of them is unsurprisingly Neymar, but the other is among the best defenders of his generation. Thiago Silva is perhaps the most experienced player in Qatar and potentially the most important non-attacker for the Seleção's title hopes.

Thiago Silva has won nearly everything you could imagine at the club level with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea and on the international stage with Brazil, but a World Cup title has thus far escaped him.

The 38-year-old defender will be vital in defense for Brazil, but he also has a knack for producing important goals.

This article was produced in partnership with Prada Luna Rossa.

Top Club Highlights

Thiago Silva has five goals in his 66 English Premier League appearances for Chelsea, and all have been scored with his head.

Four of his five goals in England have come against two of Chelsea's London rivals—two against Tottenham Hotspur and two versus West Ham United. He used his aerial ability in tight space to direct home those tallies.

He has had a flair for the dramatic in front of his own goal as well. He made a last-gasp goal-line clearance against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 29, one of his many key interventions while defending the Chelsea net.

The peak of his Chelsea stint came when winning the Champions League in 2021. Prior to his time in London, he spent eight seasons with PSG and secured seven Ligue 1 titles. Before that, he was with AC Milan for three seasons and helped the club win one Serie A title.

Top Brazil Highlights

Thiago Silva scored one goal for Brazil in all but one year (2016) from 2012-19.

Three of those tallies have come in international competitions. He scored against Colombia in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup, versus Venezuela at the 2015 Copa America and in a group-stage match with Serbia at the 2018 World Cup.

Despite never having lifted the World Cup Trophy, he has won both Copa America and the Confederations Cup, in addition to earning both a bronze and silver medal in his Olympics appearances.

Thiago Silva's all-around strengths in defense were a major reason why Brazil topped the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table with 45 points and five goals conceded.

Biggest Strengths

Even at age 38, Thiago Silva remains a truly complete center back. His defensive positioning is always savvy and his timing generally impeccable, and he leads the Chelsea squad with 40 clearances and 17 interceptions in the Premier League this season.

He is calm and consistent with the ball at his feet as well, notching an 89 percent pass completion rate for the Blues in EPL play, to go along with two assists.

As shown in the highlights above, he's maintained some aerial prowess and remains a danger on set pieces.

But beyond his individual skill, his leadership stands out as a major strength, having served long stretches as captain for both Brazil and PSG.

World Cup Outlook

Brazil is considered one of the favorites to hoist the trophy in Qatar.

The pressure has built over the last decade on the Seleção because they have not reached the championship match in the last four World Cups. They were knocked out in the quarterfinals in 2006, 2010 and 2018 and suffered the infamous 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 semifinals on home soil.

Brazil has an embarrassment of riches in attacking positions and will be expected to roll through Group G against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon before setting its sights on a trophy quest. Anything less than a title is not acceptable in Brazil, and that will also require a stiff defense that Thiago Silva will be expected to lead.