Thiago Silva surprises again.

At the age of 41, Thiago Silva made a memorable debut for Porto, becoming one of the key players who helped the team eliminate José Mourinho's Benfica in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.

Thiago Silva continues to write his own legendary story.

On January 15th, Benfica were eliminated from the Portuguese Cup after a 0-1 defeat to Porto in the quarter-finals. The match, played at the Estadio do Dragao, saw the Brazilian central defender make his first start, playing the full 90 minutes and playing a crucial role in Porto's victory.

With the experience of a 41-year-old veteran, Silva displayed outstanding form in his first match for Porto. He completed 40 out of 43 passes, made 6 clearances, won 3 out of 3 duels, recovered the ball twice, committed no fouls, and was not dribbled past by any opponent.

These statistics helped Porto surpass Benfica, their arch-rivals under the legendary coach Mourinho. The fact that Silva has maintained such peak form at this stage of his professional career is truly astonishing.

A Bola called this a "rare phenomenon" in world -class football, because not many stars over 40 still play regularly and shine in top European football. It's worth remembering that last season, Silva was still a key player for Fluminense in the Brazilian league, and will shine at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

In December, Silva reached an agreement to join FC Porto on a contract until June 2026, with an option to extend for another season.

Silva has played 78 consecutive matches without a break since returning to Brazil, achieving a 71% success rate in duels. However, moving to Porto is another challenge. The Portuguese league is among the top seven in Europe, and doubts about the abilities of a 41-year-old player still remain.

However, with what he showed in his Porto debut against Benfica, Silva reminded everyone of his greatness. He possesses a level of endurance that transcends the usual limits of a footballer's career.

Given his current form, the chances of Silva being retained by Porto for next season and participating in the 2026 World Cup are growing. If that happens, Silva will make history in world football.

An incredibly bizarre penalty save at the African Cup of Nations: In the early hours of January 15th, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made an impressive save, helping Morocco win 4-2 against Nigeria in the penalty shootout of the 2026 African Cup of Nations semi-final.

Source: https://znews.vn/thiago-silva-lai-gay-kinh-ngac-post1619939.html