“Huge Hole in My Lung” – Thiago Silva Was ‘Almost Dying’ During Fight Against Tuberculosis

Published 12/30/2023, 11:57 AM EST

For Thiago Silva, his massive achievement is not the 26 trophies he has won. Instead, for the Chelsea star, his biggest achievement is his triumph over tuberculosis. The newly unveiled Netflix documentary, ‘Captains of the World’ features an emotional opening from the Brazilian defender regarding his near-death experience from tuberculosis that has left never-healing scars.

Thiago Silva embarked on a momentous journey at the tender age of 20, leaving his homeland of Brazil to join the Russian club Dynamo Moscow. Unfortunately, this hopeful start was overshadowed by challenges when he was admitted to the hospital due to tuberculosis.

Thiago Silva talks about his battle with tuberculosis

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In the documentary, Silva opened up about the terrifying experience, that he considers the biggest battle in his life. “I left Brazil when I was young,” the center-back disclosed. “And from there I had the opportunity to transfer to Dynamo Moscow. I trained and trained with a really painful chest,” he stated.

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He further confessed, “I didn’t know what was really going on. I was almost dying, man. The doctor held the X-ray up to the light, and you could see that there was a huge hole in my lung,” Silva added. The 39-year-old also disclosed that if he had waited any longer to diagnose and treat him, there would have been no cure.

Then, discussing his six months in the hospital, the Chelsea star added, “I was alone. It is awful being away from your home when your family is in Brazil. Going through tuberculosis left me with scars that will never heal.” However, this condition nearly spelled the end of his soccer career too.

From near retirement to legendary status

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Throughout his treatment, doctors advised Thiago Silva to remove a portion of his right lung to survive. Unfortunately, this would have meant the end of his playing days. The Brazilian himself contemplated retirement but ultimately refused to give up. Following his battle with tuberculosis, he returned to Brazil and joined Fluminense. This move marked a remarkable resurgence in his career and paved the way for success at AC Milan, PSG, and Chelsea.

At 39 years old, he also became Chelsea’s oldest-ever outfield player. Interestingly, Thiago Silva’s move to Chelsea wouldn’t have been possible without the influence of Pep Guardiola. Despite his life-threatening battle, Silva went on to become a true legend of the game.

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Written by:

My name is Saransh Chauhan and I am an experienced soccer writer at EssentiallySports. With over a year of experience at EssentiallySports, I have covered various aspects of the magnificent sport. While I strive to provide comprehensive coverage of core sports topics, I also explore off-court and entertainment subjects.

Edited by:

Jacob Gijy

“Huge Hole in My Lung” – Thiago Silva Was ‘Almost Dying’ During Fight Against Tuberculosis

Thiago Silva talks about his battle with tuberculosis

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From near retirement to legendary status