António Silva
Silva with Benfica in 2022
Personal information
Full name António João Pereira de Albuquerque Tavares da Silva[1]
Date of birth (2003-10-30) 30 October 2003
Place of birth Viseu, Portugal[2]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Benfica
Number 4
Youth career
2010–2012 Penalva do Castelo
2012–2015 Repesenses
2015–2016 Viseu United
2016–2022 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Benfica B 4 (0)
2022– Benfica 46 (5)
International career‡
2019 Portugal U16 8 (0)
2019–2020 Portugal U17 8 (1)
2021 Portugal U18 2 (0)
2021–2022 Portugal U19 9 (1)
2022 Portugal U21 1 (0)
2022– Portugal 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:08, 14 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:22, 16 November 2023 (UTC)

António João Pereira de Albuquerque Tavares da Silva (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈtɔniu ˈsilvɐ]; born 30 October 2003) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Portugal national team.

Coming through Benfica's youth system, Silva impressed during his time with the reserve side, winning the UEFA Youth League in 2021–22, being instrumental part of Benfica's first European trophy in 60 years. He was subsequently promoted to the first-team, making his professional debut at age 18, where he helped Benfica win the league title in his first season with them.

Silva is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various levels. He was chosen in the senior squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making shortly after, his senior international debut.

Club career

Benfica

Early career

Born in Viseu, Silva began his youth career with hometown club Viseu United, aged 11, and also had spells at Penalva do Castelo and Repesenses.[4] He quickly stood out, subsequently began having multiple training sessions with Sporting CP, while Porto also showed an interest in signing him, but he ended up joining their rivals and his boyhood club Benfica's youth academy in 2016.[5] Struggling with homesickness, Silva returned to his hometown to spend time with his family, but with the help of the club's psychologist, he managed to overcome his mental health problems and went back to Benfica a year later, after adjusting to life in Lisbon.[5][6]

2021–22: Youth League and development

On 28 November 2021, Silva signed his first professional contract with Benfica B.[7] He made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 2–1 LigaPro loss to Mafra on 2 April 2022.[8] During that season, Silva played a major role in the 2021–22 UEFA Youth League, where Benfica U19 topped their group against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.[9][10] In the final phases, he scored the equaliser in a 3–2 win over Midtjylland, after his side were two goals behind and in the final, he helped his side keep a clean sheet in a 6–0 win over Red Bull Salzburg to help Benfica win their first Youth League title, and their first title in European football since the 1961–62 European Cup.[11]

2022–23: First-team breakthrough and league title

Having appeared for the club's B team, it was expected that Silva would spend the 2022–23 season continuing his development there, but he began training with the first team, after impressing newly arrived coach Roger Schmidt, which led him to progress in the team's centre-backs ranks, ahead of Tomás Araujo and Jan Vertonghen, who was away on international duty for Belgium.[12][13] Following the suspension of Nicolás Otamendi, he was given his first start by the new coach on 27 August, being entrusted in the centre defence, alongside Morato, and putting a strong performance, in a 3–0 away win over Boavista in the Primeira Liga.[14] He subsequently became a starter following an injury crisis at the club, leading Silva to fill the void alongside Otamendi, who was the only fit centre-back available.[5] On 5 September, he agreed to a contract extension to 2027, increasing his buyout clause to €100 million.[15][16] The following day, Silva made his UEFA Champions League debut, partnering with Nicolás Otamendi in the centre of defence, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 home win over Maccabi Haifa.[17]

Silva was named the league's Defender of the Month for September, after helping Benfica maintaining their unbeaten run, which included three clean sheets.[18] On 25 October, Silva scored his first goal for the club, opening Benfica's 4–3 home victory over Juventus in a 2022–23 UEFA Champions League group stage match.[19] His form throughout the club's Champions League group stage campaign, saw him help his side qualify to the round of sixteen, as group winners, following a 6–1 away win over Maccabi Haifa on 2 November.[20] Four days later, Silva scored his first league goals, netting a brace in a 5–1 victory against Estoril.[21] This saw him being the league's Defender of the Month for the months of October and November.[22]

Over the course of the domestic campaign, Silva started and completed almost every minute for Benfica, playing a major part in their campaign, sealing Benfica's first title in four years on the final day of the league campaign, following a 3–0 win over Santa Clara.[23]

International career

Silva represented Portugal at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19, for a total of 18 caps, serving as captain for the latter.[24] On 24 September 2022, Silva made his under-21 debut, replacing André Amaro in a 4–1 friendly defeat of Georgia.[25]

In October 2022, he was named in Portugal's preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,[26] being included in the final 26-man squad for the tournament.[27] He made his senior international debut in a friendly against Nigeria on 17 November, starting in Portugal's 4–0 win.[28][29] With Portugal having secured qualification from their group, he started in the last fixture, featuring in the 2–1 loss to South Korea in Al Rayyan. In doing so, he became the youngest player ever to represent Portugal at the World Cup at 19 years, one months and three days old.[30][31]

Style of play

A hard-tackling and versatile defender, Silva is a physically strong, right-footed centre-back, who usually features on the right-hand side of central defence, but he is able to play on both sides due to being comfortable at passing the ball with both feet. He is able to pass in different directions, whether to a teammate on the same side as him, or switching it to the opposing side or making vertical line-breaking passes, in order to dictate play in any direction from the back. He is known for being an accurate tackler, who is very good at winning back possession, and at anticipating and intercepting plays, due to his acute tactical intelligence, speed of thought, marking ability, positional sense and his ability to read the game. In addition to his defensive skills, he is comfortable on the ball, possessing good technical ability, as well as good distribution. He is also known for his ability to cover ground and put pressure on or anticipate opponents in positions higher up on the pitch.[32][5]

He is also known for his leadership skills, with former Portuguese international Abel Xavier commenting that for his "security, maturity, vision of the game, assertiveness, aggression, and for his leadership and not for his age, he can be the future captain of Benfica".[33][5] Silva idolises compratriot Cristiano Ronaldo and Benfica legend Luisão and also cited compratriot Rúben Dias, Antonio Rüdiger and Virgil van Dijk as inspirations.[34]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 14 January 2024[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica B 2021–22 Liga Portugal 2 20————20
2022–23 Liga Portugal 2 20————20
Total 40————40
Benfica 2022–23 Primeira Liga 303301010[lower-alpha 1]2—445
2023–24 Primeira Liga 16230204[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0262
Total 465603014210707
Career total 505603014210747

International

As of match played 16 November 2023[36]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 202220
202350
Total70

Honours

Benfica Youth

Benfica

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Certã Alves, Rafaela (28 November 2021). "António Silva renews contract". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ↑ António Silva at WorldFootball.net
  3. ↑ "A. Silva". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "Benfica renova contrato com António Silva" [Benfica renews contract with António Silva]. record.pt (in Portuguese). 28 November 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Antonio Silva: The new Ruben Dias on Man Utd and Real Madrid's transfer radar". goal.com (in Portuguese). 11 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Passo atrás embala António Silva para a afirmação" [Step back packs António Silva for the affirmation]. record.pt (in Portuguese). 4 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "António Silva renova contrato". SL Benfica (in Portuguese). 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "MAFRA VS. BENFICA II - 2 April 2022 - Soccerway". pt.soccerway.com.
  9. ↑ "Youth League: Benfica-Bayern". O Jogo (in European Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Categórico escreveu-se com golos". SL Benfica (in Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Benfica: a história dos 24 jogadores que venceram a Youth League". maisfutebol.iol.pt. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "António Silva a subir na hierarquia: jovem central conquista Schmidt". record.pt (in Portuguese). 11 July 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "António Silva brilha no estágio do Benfica e já se destacava nos iniciados: «Parecia um adulto»". record.pt (in Portuguese). 12 July 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Schmidt promoveu três estreias no Bessa". A Bola. 27 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Henrique Araújo e António Silva renovam contratos". A Bola (in Portuguese). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "As cláusulas de rescisão de António Silva e Henrique Araújo". A Bola (in Portuguese). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Laurent Maltret (6 September 2022). "Benfica 2-0 Maccabi Haïfa, Champions League, result and summary of the match". L'Équipe (in French).
  18. 1 2 "António Silva eleito defesa do mês". A Bola (in Portuguese). 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  19. ↑ "Benfica 4–3 Juventus". UEFA. 25 October 2022.
  20. ↑ Matthew, Marshall (2 November 2022). "Benfica crush Maccabi Haifa to snatch top spot from PSG in Group H". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "Benfica não perde apetite e goleia no Estoril". A Bola. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  22. 1 2 "Melhores de outubro/novembro: António Silva renova distinção de Defesa do Mês da Liga Portugal bwin". Liga Portugal. 15 December 2022.
  23. 1 2 Kundert, Tom (27 May 2023). "Benfica crowned champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  24. ↑ "António Silva". fpf.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  25. ↑ "Portugal goleia Geórgia por 4-1 num encontro particular" [Portugal thrash Georgia 4-1 in a friendly]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 September 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Thanveer, Dakir Mohammed (25 October 2022). "Portugal reportedly name provisional 55-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup; Liverpool star receives surprise call up". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "Os 26 convocados de Portugal: Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otávio e Matheus Nunes chamados" [Portugal select 26: Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otávio and Matheus Nunes called] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  28. ↑ "Pre-World Cup friendly results: Ronaldo-less Portugal dominate Nigeria while Ziyech scores screamer for Morocco". Goal. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  29. ↑ "Portugal vs. Nigeria". Soccerway. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  30. ↑ Bevan, Chris (2 December 2022). "South Korea 2–1 Portugal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  31. ↑ Teixeira, Sofia (2 December 2022). "António Silva é o português mais jovem de sempre a jogar num Mundial". Jornal de Notícias. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  32. ↑ "António Silva Football Talent Scout". 12 August 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  33. ↑ ""Pela sua liderança e não pela sua idade, António Silva pode ser o futuro capitão do Benfica"" [«For his leadership and not for his age, António Silva can be the future captain of Benfica»]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  34. ↑ "António Silva quer seguir os passos de Rúben Dias: «Olhem para o que ele já atingiu»" [António Silva wants to follow in the footsteps of Rúben Dias: «Look at what he has already achieved»]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 July 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  35. ↑ António Silva at Soccerway
  36. ↑ "António Silva". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  37. ↑ Raio X de Jogador António Silva Benfica zerozero.pt
  38. ↑ "A BOLA - Conheça os 24 heróis da Youth League (Benfica)". A Bola. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  39. ↑ Vaza, Marco (9 August 2023). "Benfica soube mudar para ganhar a Supertaça". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  40. ↑ "De Rafa a António Silva: os vencedores dos galardões Cosme Damião". A Bola (in Portuguese). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  41. ↑ "António Silva wins Defender of the Month for October/November". Liga Portugal. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  42. ↑ "11 do Ano fechado com avançado do SC Braga (fotogaleria) (Liga)". A Bola (in Portuguese). 25 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  43. ↑ "IFFHS MEN'S YOUTH (U20) WORLD TEAM 2023". IFFHS. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
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