Thiago Emiliano Thiago Silva

Sport: Soccer

Nation: Brazil

DOB: September 22, 1984

Career Highlights: Perhaps the best defender in the world, Thiago Silva is expected to captain Brazil at the Olympics as the team attempts to win gold for the first time. He was a member of the 2008 squad also as an overage player, but that team's run disappointingly ended with a bronze. Since then, Thiago Silva has become a mainstay in central defense for the full national team, while also becoming a superstar for Italy’s AC Milan. His skill and calmness on the ball bring a different dynamic to central defense and make him capable of being moved into a defensive midfield role. Still, he's a tremendous ball winner in the air and has impressive strength in the box. His aerial ability was on display when he scored his only goal for Brazil on a header off a corner kick in a 4-1 win over the United States on May 30. Thiago Silva's meteoric rise with Brazil and Milan caused Paris Saint-Germain to purchase him for a staggering transfer fee of nearly $52 million in July. His inclusion to the Brazil team is a major reason it's the favorite to win gold in London.

Olympic History: 2008