--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can say that Thiago Silva has no rival…" description: "\"I can say that Thiago Silva has no rival in his position. He is by far the best defender in the world. It’s a compliment for me to be compared to him.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/paolo-maldini-12350_compliment_i-can-say-that-thiago-silva-has-no-rival_2016690.png" --- # I can say that Thiago Silva has no rival in his position… ![“I can say that Thiago Silva has no rival in his position. He is by far the best defender in the world. It’s a compliment for me to be compared to him.” quote by Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/paolo-maldini-12350_compliment_i-can-say-that-thiago-silva-has-no-rival_2016690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/paolo-maldini-12350_compliment_i-can-say-that-thiago-silva-has-no-rival_2016690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/paolo-maldini-12350_compliment_i-can-say-that-thiago-silva-has-no-rival_2016690.png) > “I can say that Thiago Silva has no rival in his position. He is by far the best defender in the world. It’s a compliment for me to be compared to him.” [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises Thiago Silva as the unrivaled top defender, using him as a benchmark for his own performance. **In simple terms:** Silva is the best defender, a personal benchmark. Key Takeaway Strive to match elite standards. Themes sports confidence benchmarking humility excellence Mood proud determined respectful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - training - match preparation - career reflection - team motivation Key Concepts defensive skill leadership comparison self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - How does comparing yourself to a peer motivate you? - What risks arise from idolizing a rival? A Different Perspective Comparisons can overlook personal growth paths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenders/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Rivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivals/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [For me, Thiago Silva remains the best defender in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/for-me-thiago-silva-remains-the-best-defender-in-the-world/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [Thiago Silva is a great player. As I have always said, I think he is one of the best defenders in the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/thiago-silva-is-a-great-player-as-i-have-always-said-i-think-he-is/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [Best defender I have played against? Carles Puyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesc-fabregas/best-defender-i-have-played-against-carles-puyol/) [Cesc Fabregas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesc-fabregas/) > [Sergio Ramos has everything to become the best defender in the world, if he is not already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/sergio-ramos-has-everything-to-become-the-best-defender-in-the-world/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [After I was invited to take over the Selecao, one of the first things I did was to call Marcelo and Thiago Silva. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite/after-i-was-invited-to-take-over-the-selecao-one-of-the-first-things/) [Tite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite/) > [I won't fight Thiago Silva. I won't fight Cezar 'Mutante' Ferreira. I won't fight anybody who I train with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashad-evans/i-won-t-fight-thiago-silva-i-won-t-fight-cezar-mutante-ferreira-i-won/) [Rashad Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashad-evans/) > [Paolo Maldini never won, but he was the best defender in the world. Gianluigi Buffon never won; he was the best goalkeeper in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/paolo-maldini-never-won-but-he-was-the-best-defender-in-the-world/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [For me, the best defender I played against was Carles Puyol. He was my teammate, too, but my rival many times. Also, Roberto Ayala,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/for-me-the-best-defender-i-played-against-was-carles-puyol-he-was-my/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [As a competitor, you always want to go against the best, so whoever guards me, I'm hoping it's the best defender from the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-herro/as-a-competitor-you-always-want-to-go-against-the-best-so-whoever/) [Tyler Herro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-herro/) > [I've always thought I was the best defender in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-ve-always-thought-i-was-the-best-defender-in-the-league/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [I think I can become the best defender in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-think-i-can-become-the-best-defender-in-the-league/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [Do I want to be the best defender in Europe? Of course. Any defender will tell you that - who wouldn't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aymeric-laporte/do-i-want-to-be-the-best-defender-in-europe-of-course-any-defender/) [Aymeric Laporte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aymeric-laporte/) > [Usually I've had two jobs: be the best defender and the best scorer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-george/usually-i-ve-had-two-jobs-be-the-best-defender-and-the-best-scorer/) [Paul George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-george/) > [Sergio Ramos is the best defender in the world, but it's not just me saying this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/sergio-ramos-is-the-best-defender-in-the-world-but-it-s-not-just-me/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [I enjoy those physical battles and I've been on record saying Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/i-enjoy-those-physical-battles-and-i-ve-been-on-record-saying-virgil/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) ## More by Paolo Maldini > [Even though I am not going to coach in the future, if I had to pass on a recommendation, it would be to base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/even-though-i-am-not-going-to-coach-in-the-future-if-i-had-to-pass-on/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I was fortunate enough to be with Milan for 25 splendid years. When I arrived, I found a great foundation to build a great club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-was-fortunate-enough-to-be-with-milan-for-25-splendid-years-when-i/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [In the Champions League, you can focus on a single game and play in exactly the style you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/in-the-champions-league-you-can-focus-on-a-single-game-and-play-in/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Sergio Ramos has everything to become the best defender in the world, if he is not already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/sergio-ramos-has-everything-to-become-the-best-defender-in-the-world/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [It would be great to lift the Champions League trophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/it-would-be-great-to-lift-the-champions-league-trophy/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I won my first Champions League in 1989, and I won my last one 18 years later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-won-my-first-champions-league-in-1989-and-i-won-my-last-one-18/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Too much tension can do bad things to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/too-much-tension-can-do-bad-things-to-you/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Baggio is a unique player. It should not surprise you that he gets the most press. But you must remember that it takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/baggio-is-a-unique-player-it-should-not-surprise-you-that-he-gets-the/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [You cannot choose your opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/you-cannot-choose-your-opponents/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I was lucky enough to play against Maradona. He and Ronaldo, when he was at Inter Milan - they were my toughest opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-was-lucky-enough-to-play-against-maradona-he-and-ronaldo-when-he/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I will not play a farewell game with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for expressing an interest. 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