World’s best centre-back? The story behind Thiago Silva’s Ballon d’Or nomination

It is always said that defenders are under-appreciated when it comes to player of the year nominations so Thiago Silva‘s inclusion as the only central defensive player in the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or this year marks him out as a unique talent in many ways. The PSG centre-back made a brave choice leaving AC Milan, a club where he was worshipped, to seek out the money-laden project underway in the French capital but his signing has since incited many more to come and he has been the bedrock of their success thus far.

Major honours this year

A Ligue 1 and a Trophee des Champions title domestically is overshadowed by that huge Confederations Cup win against Spain in Brazil. Silva is one of only two Brazilians on the shortlist (along with Neymar) and as captain wears the armband with enormous pride and authority. He will also surely pick up his third consecutive Uefa Team of the Year nomination in November.

Who is Thiago Silva?

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1984, the 29-year-old defender is reaching the poetic nadir of a career which has engaged in a movie-like narrative thus far. Trained by Fluminense and quickly moving up the ranks in the Brazilian Serie A, young Thiago was picked out by European football’s “finishing school” FC Porto. The move didn’t work out however and he failed to make a single appearance at the club, a similar story to that suffered in Portugal occurred in Russia for Dynamo Moscow. Redemption came back at Fluminense before Silva took the decision to move again, this time his extraordinary form meriting a move to AC Milan. His departure for PSG rocked the Rossoneri and has precipitated their downfall in recent seasons. Now captain of a new French powerhouse and seemingly destined to appear in the World Cup Final in his hometown Rio at the Maracana, the script is set for an incredible 2014 for Thiago Silva.

Key stats

People frequently discuss the Brazilian’s pace as a centre-back but in my eyes it is his ability to form a partnership with whoever he plays alongside. He can play left or right in central defence and go to the ball with his height, strength and aggression or sweep up with his deceptive pace and ease on the ball. This season so far he has completed 93% of his passes in Ligue 1.

Does he deserve his nomination?

Yes, and not just because he’s a marquee name. A lot of people are unhappy with Paris Saint-Germain’s three names on the shortlist while Borussia Dortmund have just the one but this is a player who has made opposition strikers look ordinary at every level. His work-rate is unparalleled and his reading of the game exquisite. He is the best all-round centre-back in the world.

Does he have a chance of winning?

No. And he probably never will. Fabio Cannavaro is the only centre-back to ever make the top three for the Fifa World Player of The Year (now the Ballon D’Or) and Thiago hasn’t been anywhere near as good as the Italian was in 2006. Lead Brazil to World Cup glory next year however….