Chelsea’s young squad will face a familiar figure on Tuesday when they take on Brazilian side Fluminense in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Veteran centre-back Thiago Silva, now 40, will lead the Copa Libertadores champions against his former club in what promises to be an emotional and high-stakes reunion.
Silva, who joined Chelsea in 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain, enjoyed a successful four-year spell at Stamford Bridge. He played 155 matches, won the UEFA Champions League in his debut season, and helped mentor many of the young talents now flourishing under manager Enzo Maresca.
“He’s a legend of the game,” said Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, who played alongside Silva for two years. “We’ve exchanged a few messages about this match. It’s a great opportunity to face him again, and hopefully, we can get the win and reach the final.”
Silva’s return to Fluminense in 2024 was a homecoming. He had initially made his name there in the 2000s, playing a key role in their run to the 2008 Copa Libertadores final. Now reunited with coach Renato Gaúcho, who guided that 2008 team, Silva has helped lead the club to yet another strong campaign—winning the 2023 Libertadores and mounting an impressive Club World Cup run.
Fluminense’s journey to the semis has seen them draw with Borussia Dortmund, eliminate Inter Milan, and beat Al Hilal in the quarter-finals. Reflecting on their surprise progress, Silva told DAZN:
“If you’d asked me before the tournament whether we’d come this far, I would’ve said no. The financial gap is huge, but our collective strength and team spirit have pushed us further than many expected.”
Despite Silva’s leadership, Fluminense aren’t short of experience elsewhere. Their squad also features 44-year-old goalkeeper Fábio, 35-year-old wing-back Samuel Xavier, and 37-year-old striker Germán Cano. But it’s 27-year-old Colombian winger Jhon Arias who’s been their standout performer—one of the tournament’s most exciting players so far.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has praised the Brazilian opponents:
“They are well-organized and have quality players. The manager is doing a fantastic job. Brazilian sides bring so much energy to this tournament—maybe because they’re just starting their season while we’ve finished ours.”
This will be Chelsea’s first appearance at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a massive 82,500-capacity venue just outside New York City. The young Chelsea squad, fresh off a strong season in which they finished fourth in the Premier League and won the UEFA Conference League, is one step away from the final.
Maresca has relied heavily on youth, with the average age of the starting XI that beat Palmeiras in the quarter-finals just 24 years old. More young blood is coming in, with 23-year-old João Pedro, formerly of Fluminense, made his debut in that game, while Brazilian starlet Estevão Willian (18) will join from Palmeiras next season. 20-year-old Jamie Gittens has also signed from Borussia Dortmund, adding to Chelsea’s promising core.
Meanwhile, midfield anchor Moisés Caicedo (23) is expected to return to the line-up after serving a suspension, adding strength to the engine room as Chelsea aim for a place in the final, against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
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