Brazilian legend Thiago Silva, now over 40, leads Fluminense into the FIFA Club World Cup final against his former club, Chelsea. Returning to MetLife Stadium, where he spent four seasons with Blues, Silva’s leadership has been pivotal.
His armband symbolizes Fluminense’s resurgence, overcoming relegation fears and defeating powerhouses like Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Saudi champions Al Hilal to reach the final.
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Fluminense enters final unbeaten in five tournament matches, securing three wins and two draws. Their defense, anchored by Silva has kept clean sheets in three games. Key defender Renê returns with forward Jhon Arias leading the attack. However, scorer Juan Pablo misses out due to injury.
Chelsea, English giants started strong with win over Angel City but stumbled against Brazilian side Flamengo. A narrow victory against Palmeiras in the knockout stage brought them to the semifinals, where they face another Brazilian challenge in Fluminense.
Chelsea’s record against Brazilian teams shows two wins and two losses in four matches while their last 15 games across competitions include 12 victories. Despite missing Levi Colwill and Liam due to suspensions, Moises Caicedo returns, with Noni Madueke and Pedro as potential game-changers.
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Fluminense and Chelsea meet for the first time in this tournament. Against English sides, Fluminense has five wins and five losses in 11 matches. Semi-final set for 3:00 AM Tuesday, Washington, DC, USA Standard Time, promises a clash of titans, with Silva facing his former teammate, Argentina’s World Cup winner Enzo Fernández.