Silva retains hope of Brazil recall and wishes to retire a World Cup winner

Thiago Silva may be 41 years old, but he still believes he could win a recall to Brazil's squad for the 2026 World Cup and is dreaming of retiring as a world champion.

Silva returned to his homeland to sign for Fluminense in 2024 following four years with Chelsea, during which he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Before his stint in the Premier League, Silva won 23 trophies in eight seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, having previously lifted the Scudetto with AC Milan in 2011.

And he has shown no signs of slowing down since returning to his boyhood club, who were 20th in the Brazilian Serie A table when he rejoined. A run of seven clean sheets in eight league games helped them escape relegation, and they finished fifth in 2025.

Fluminense were also the only non-European team to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, with Silva helping them keep two clean sheets in his five appearances.

The 41-year-old ranked fifth among all defenders at the tournament for clearances (30) and joint-sixth for interceptions (seven) and third for aerial duels won (13).

Silva won the most recent of his 113 senior international caps at the 2022 World Cup and has yet to be recalled by Carlo Ancelotti, but he hopes his impressive club form could lead to an appearance in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Silva said in an interview with France Football: "Can you imagine if I ended my career with a World Cup title?

"It would be the absolute dream and the perfect moment to stop.

"I haven't been called up since the 2022 World Cup, but I thought it wasn't impossible. That's why I signed for two years with Fluminense, to try and play in the World Cup."

Brazil will face Morocco in their opening Group C fixture on June 13, in New Jersey, before taking on Haiti in Philadelphia and Scotland in Miami.