1. Early life and youth career
António Silva was born in Viseu, Portugal, on October 30, 2003. He began his football journey at a young age, starting his youth career with his hometown club Viseu United at the age of 11. Prior to joining Viseu United (from 2015 to 2016), he also had developmental spells at Penalva do Castelo from 2010 to 2012 and Repesenses from 2012 to 2015.
Silva quickly distinguished himself through his skills and potential, attracting attention from major Portuguese clubs. He frequently trained with Sporting CP, and FC Porto also expressed interest in signing him. However, he ultimately chose to join the youth academy of his boyhood club and their rival, S.L. Benfica, in 2016. His initial period at Benfica was challenging, as he struggled with homesickness. He returned to Viseu to spend time with his family, but with the support of the club's psychologist, he successfully overcame his mental health difficulties. After adjusting to life in Lisbon, he returned to Benfica a year later, resuming his path in professional football.
2. Club career
António Silva's club career began with S.L. Benfica's youth and reserve teams, where he quickly demonstrated his potential, leading to a rapid ascent to the senior squad.
2.1. Benfica B and Youth League success (2021-2022)
On November 28, 2021, António Silva signed his first professional contract with S.L. Benfica B. He made his professional debut for Benfica B on April 2, 2022, in a 2-1 LigaPro loss against Mafra.
During the 2021-22 season, Silva played a pivotal role in the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League. Benfica's U19 team topped their group, which included strong youth sides from Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. In the knockout stages, he scored a crucial equalizer in a 3-2 comeback victory over Midtjylland, a match where his team had initially fallen two goals behind. In the final, he was instrumental in maintaining a clean sheet as Benfica secured a resounding 6-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg. This historic victory earned Benfica their first UEFA Youth League title and marked the club's first major European trophy since the 1961-62 European Cup triumph 60 years prior.
2.2. First-team breakthrough and Primeira Liga title (2022-2023)
Heading into the 2022-23 season, it was initially anticipated that Silva would continue his development with the B team. However, his performances caught the eye of newly appointed first-team coach Roger Schmidt, leading him to begin training with the senior squad. Silva quickly ascended the ranks among the team's centre-backs, surpassing more experienced players like Tomás Araujo and Jan Vertonghen (who was on international duty at the time).
Silva was handed his first senior start on August 27, 2022, in a Primeira Liga match against Boavista. This opportunity arose due to the suspension of regular starter Nicolás Otamendi. Partnering Morato in central defense, Silva delivered a strong performance in a 3-0 away victory. He subsequently became a regular starter for the first team following an injury crisis that left Otamendi as the only other fit centre-back. On September 5, Silva signed a contract extension until 2027, which included an increased buyout clause set at 100.00 M EUR. The very next day, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, once again partnering Otamendi, and helped secure a clean sheet in a 2-0 home win against Maccabi Haifa.
Silva's exceptional form continued throughout the season. He was named the league's Defender of the Month for September, contributing to Benfica's unbeaten streak with three clean sheets. On October 25, he scored his first goal for the club, opening the scoring in Benfica's 4-3 home victory over Juventus in a Champions League group stage match. His strong performances in the Champions League group stage helped Benfica qualify for the round of sixteen as group winners, notably after a dominant 6-1 away win over Maccabi Haifa on November 2. Four days later, Silva scored his first league goals, netting a brace in a decisive 5-1 victory against Estoril. His consistent excellence earned him another Defender of the Month award for October and November.
Throughout the domestic campaign, Silva started and played almost every minute for Benfica. He was a crucial component of their defense, playing a major part in their successful season which culminated in securing Benfica's first Primeira Liga title in four years. The title was sealed on the final day of the league season with a 3-0 victory over Santa Clara.
2.3. Subsequent seasons and performance changes (2023-Present)
The 2023-24 season saw Benfica endure a challenging start to their new campaign. On September 20, 2023, Silva received the first red card of his career during a 2-0 home loss to Red Bull Salzburg in a Champions League group stage match. He was sent off for a second bookable offense in the first half after a handball incident following a shot from Roko Šimić. Despite this setback, his performances recovered later in the season, and he was again named the Defender of the Month for both October and November.
However, Silva received his second Champions League red card on November 29, 2023, in a 3-3 home draw against Inter Milan. This time, it was a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Nicolò Barella during an Inter Milan counter-attack. This booking meant Silva missed Benfica's final group stage match away against Red Bull Salzburg, which they won 3-1, securing their qualification for the UEFA Europa League knock-out round play-offs.
During the 2023-24 campaign, Silva continued to be a consistent starter, playing almost every minute for Benfica. The club was ultimately knocked out in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals by Olympique de Marseille on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw. Domestically, Benfica finished as league runners-up to their crosstown rivals Sporting CP.
In the subsequent season, with the arrival of new manager Bruno Lage, Silva experienced a shift in his role. He lost his place in Benfica's starting eleven to Tomás Araújo. This change was primarily due to tactical considerations by Lage, who preferred Araújo's superior passing ability for building play from the back and his speed. Despite this, Silva remained a strong and valuable option for his manager.
3. International career
António Silva has represented Portugal at various youth levels, including the under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-19 teams. He accumulated a total of 18 caps across these age groups and served as captain for the under-19 national team. On September 24, 2022, Silva made his under-21 debut, coming on as a substitute for André Amaro in a 4-1 friendly victory against Georgia.
In October 2022, his impressive club form earned him a place in Portugal's preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He was subsequently included in the final 26-man squad for the tournament. Silva made his senior international debut for Portugal on November 17, starting in a 4-0 friendly win against Nigeria. His World Cup debut came on December 2, when he started in a 2-1 loss to South Korea in Al Rayyan, a match where Portugal had already secured qualification from their group. In doing so, he became the youngest player ever to represent Portugal at the World Cup, at 19 years, one month, and three days old.
On May 21, 2024, Silva was selected for the 26-man squad to participate in UEFA Euro 2024. He made his debut in the competition, starting in Portugal's final group stage fixture against Georgia, with Portugal having already secured qualification. In this match, he committed a critical error that led to Georgia's first goal and later conceded a penalty, contributing to Portugal's 2-0 defeat. His performance in this game drew considerable criticism. He did not feature for Portugal in the subsequent knockout stage, as the team was eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-finals after losing to France 5-3 in a penalty shootout.
4. Style of play
António Silva is a physically strong, right-footed centre-back known for his hard-tackling and versatile defensive attributes. He is highly regarded for his precise tackling, exceptional tactical intelligence, and keen ability to anticipate and read the game. Comfortable with both feet, Silva excels at distributing the ball, whether through maintaining possession, switching play with long passes, or breaking defensive lines with incisive vertical passes.
His defensive strengths are rooted in his excellent anticipation, tight marking, and superior positional awareness. Furthermore, his mobility and technical skills enable him to contribute effectively not only defensively but also in the transition phases of play, initiating attacks from the back.
Silva is also recognized for his notable leadership qualities, even at a young age. Former Portuguese international Abel Xavier has lauded his "security, maturity, game vision, assertiveness, aggression, and leadership." Xavier emphasized that, irrespective of his age, Silva possesses the potential to become the future captain of Benfica. Silva himself has cited compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo and Benfica legend Luisão as his idols. He also draws inspiration from contemporary defenders such as compatriot Rúben Dias, Antonio Rüdiger, and Virgil van Dijk.
5. Career statistics
5.1. Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Taça de Portugal | Taça da Liga | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2021-22 | Liga Portugal 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2022-23 | Liga Portugal 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| Benfica | 2022-23 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | - | 44 | 5 | |
| 2023-24 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 2 | |
| 2024-25 | Primeira Liga | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| Total | 72 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 8 | ||
| Career total | 76 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 124 | 8 | ||
5.2. International statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 0 | |
6. Honours
António Silva has earned several collective and individual honors throughout his career.
6.1. Club honours
Benfica B
- Campeonato Nacional de Juniores: 2021-22
- UEFA Youth League: 2021-22
Benfica
- Primeira Liga: 2022-23
- Taça da Liga: 2024-25
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2023
6.2. Individual honours
- Cosme Damião Awards - Revelation of the Year: 2022
- Cosme Damião Awards - Footballer of the Year: 2024
- Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2022-23
- IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2023
- SJPF Young Player of the Month: October 2023
- Primeira Liga Defender of the Month: September 2022, October/November 2022, October 2023, November 2023