Antonio Silva: The Rolls Royce Portuguese Defender

Antonio Silva is emerging as a standout in the football world, known for his hard tackling and versatility. He is a wonderful defender with leadership skills through his maturity, vision, and assertiveness, and he has been touted to be a future captain of Benfica and Portugal.

The Portuguese defender is part of a rising crop of stars born in 2003 that have taken the world by storm with their talents which includes the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala. As he continues to develop, Footballers’ Biographies will pen the adventures of Antonio Silva.

Player Profile – Antonio Silva

António Silva, born on October 30, 2003, in Viseu, Portugal, is a talented centre-back currently plying his trade for Benfica in the Primeira Liga and representing Portugal internationally.

His football journey began with Viseu United and included spells at Penalva do Castelo and Repesenses during his youth development. Silva’s career highlights include representing Portugal across various youth levels and making his senior international debut in 2022.

Known for his strong defensive skills and tactical intelligence, Silva continues to impress with his versatility and dedication on the field, marking him as a promising prospect in Portuguese football.

Player Profile Overview

Antonio Silva’s Early Life and Background

António João Pereira de Albuquerque Tavares da Silva, born on October 30, 2003, in Viseu, Portugal, is a promising professional footballer currently making waves as a centre-back for Benfica in the Primeira Liga and as a member of the Portugal national team.

Silva’s football journey began in his hometown of Viseu, where he joined Viseu United at the age of 11. This early exposure laid the foundation for his budding career, demonstrating his talent and dedication from a young age.

As he progressed, Silva further honed his skills during stints at Penalva do Castelo and Repesenses, solidifying his development as a versatile and skilled defender.

Playing Style and Strength

As a physically strong, right-footed centre-back, Antonio Silva primarily plays on the right side of central defence but can comfortably operate on either side due to his adept passing with both feet.

He excels in various passing directions, whether to a teammate nearby, switching play to the opposite side, or making vertical, line-breaking passes, thus dictating play from the back.

Silva is renowned for his accurate tackling and is exceptional at winning back possession and intercepting plays, thanks to his acute tactical intelligence, speed of thought, marking ability, and positional sense.

His ability to read the game, combined with his technical skills and good distribution, makes him comfortable on the ball. Silva is also known for covering ground efficiently, applying pressure, and anticipating opponents’ moves higher up the pitch.

Antonio Silva’s Career Highlights

Antonio Silva began his youth career at Viseu United at age 11 and also trained with Penalva do Castelo and Repesenses. His talent quickly attracted attention, leading to training sessions with Sporting CP and interest from Porto. However, he chose to join his boyhood club, Benfica, in 2016.

Struggling with homesickness, Silva returned to his hometown for a while but overcame his mental health challenges with the help of Benfica’s psychologist. He successfully adjusted to life in Lisbon and returned to Benfica a year later.

Winning The UEFA Youth League

Antonio Silva signed his first professional contract with Benfica B and debuted in a 2–1 LigaPro loss to Mafra. Silva played a significant role in the 2021–22 UEFA Youth League, helping Benfica U19 top their group against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.

He scored the equalizer in a crucial 3–2 win over Midtjylland in the knockout stages along with other impressive performances.

Alongside Joao Neves in the middle of the park, he helped Benfica secure a clean sheet in a 6–0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg in the final. This triumph marked Benfica’s first Youth League title and their first European title since the 1961–62 European Cup.

Breaking Into the First Team

Initially expected to continue his development with the B team for the 2022–23 season, Antonio Silva caught the eye of newly arrived coach Roger Schmidt and began training with the first team. His impressive performance led him to rise in the ranks, surpassing Tomás Araujo and Jan Vertonghen.

Silva made his first start on 27 August, delivering a strong performance in a 3–0 victory over Boavista. He became a regular starter due to an injury crisis, partnering with Nicolás Otamendi.

Antonio Silva extended his contract to 2027 with a €100 million buyout clause. The talented defender debuted in the UEFA Champions League, helping keep a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Maccabi Haifa.

Winning the Primeira Liga with Benfica

Antonio Silva had a standout season for Benfica in 2022-23, earning accolades for his defensive prowess and goal-scoring contributions. He was named Defender of the Month in September after helping maintain Benfica’s unbeaten run with three clean sheets as Silva continued his impressive form.

He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League group. Throughout the group stage campaign, Silva played a crucial role as Benfica topped their group, highlighted by a 6-1 win over Maccabi Haifa where he contributed significantly.

His success continued domestically as he scored his first league goals in a 5-1 win against Estoril and went on to be named Defender of the Month for October and November.

Silva’s consistent performances throughout the season were instrumental in Benfica clinching their first league title in four years with a decisive 3-0 win over Santa Clara on the final day of the campaign.

First Team Regular and Missing out on the Primeira Liga Title

Antonio Silva faced a challenging start to the season with Benfica, highlighted by a 2-0 home loss to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League where he received his first career red card for a handball that led to a penalty.

Despite this setback, Silva’s performances improved significantly, earning him the Defender of the Month accolade for October and November.

However, he was later sent off again in the Champions League for a two-footed challenge against Inter Milan’s Nicolò Barella, resulting in a suspension that forced him to miss a crucial match against Red Bull Salzburg, which Benfica ultimately won 3-1 to advance to the UEFA Europa League knock-out round play-offs.

Throughout the 2023-24 season, Silva was a consistent presence in Benfica’s lineup, playing nearly every minute of their campaign.

Despite their efforts, Benfica were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals by Olympique de Marseille on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw and finished as runners-up in the league to their city rivals, Sporting CP.

Antonio Silva’s International Career Highlight

Antonio Silva has been a prominent figure in Portuguese football, representing his country at various youth levels from under-16 to under-19, accumulating 18 caps and even captaining the under-19 team. His ascent continued with his under-21 debut on September 24, 2022, in a friendly match against Georgia.

In October 2022, Silva’s achievements were further recognized when he was named in Portugal’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Subsequently, he was selected for the final 26-man squad and made his senior international debut in a friendly against Nigeria on November 17, contributing to Portugal’s 4–0 victory.

Playing at the World Cup and the UEFA EURO 2024

Notably, Antonio Silva became the youngest player ever to represent Portugal at a World Cup, starting in the team’s final group match against South Korea, despite their eventual 2–1 loss. However, Portugal was eliminated from the World Cup by Morocco in the quarter-finals.

He continued his impressive ascent representing Portugal during the UEFA Nations League where the Portuguese finished behind their neighbours Spain.

Antonio Silva, Diogo Dalot, Francisco Conceicao and Diogo Costa are part of the youthful core of the Portuguese team with a blend of experience with the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe representing their country at the UEFA EURO 2024 taking place in Germany.

Antonio Silva’s Idols and Inspirations

Silva draws inspiration from some of football’s greats, idolizing his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo and Benfica legend Luisão. He also looks up to Rúben Dias, Antonio Rüdiger, and Virgil van Dijk, incorporating elements of their play into his own game.

As he continues to develop, Silva is set to become a pivotal figure in football, showcasing a blend of defensive prowess, technical skill, and leadership.

Player Comparison

Antonio Silva is drawing comparisons to Ruben Dias, with speculation mounting that he may follow Dias’ path from Benfica to a top European league.

Silva wears the same No.66 shirt Dias once wore at Estadio da Luz, admires Dias’ journey from Benfica to Manchester City, citing him as a major influence. Dias himself has shown admiration for Silva’s performances, reportedly requesting a signed shirt from the young defender.

Conclusion

Antonio Silva’s recent performances and comfort on the ball further enhance his reputation as a rising star. Drawing comparisons with other defensive stalwarts in the game is a testament to his talents.

Judging by his performance and growth Antonio Silva is poised to make a significant impact in the world of football. As he continues to develop, he is expected to play a pivotal role for both his club and country, embodying the attributes of a future leader on the field.