So much has changed in the world, and yet the resilience of veterans like Thiago Silva and Sergio Ramos in defense remains the same. In last night’s Club World Cup action, these ‘old lions’ once again displayed their enduring strength. Joining them on the spotlight list is Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio.
Despite being over 44 years old, Fábio continues to show his prowess between the posts. Fluminense held Borussia Dortmund to a goalless draw—a match in which many had favored the German side to dominate. But the game played out quite differently on the pitch. Though Fluminense trailed in possession, they outshone Dortmund in attack and chance creation. Rising above all else, however, were goalkeeper Fábio and center-back Thiago Silva.
As mentioned, Fábio is 44 and Silva is 40—their combined age an astonishing 84. But age appears to be nothing more than a number for these two. Starting with Silva: he won 9 duels, made 7 clearances, and won 8 aerial duels. Throughout the game, the legendary Brazilian center-back was a wall in Fluminense’s defensive third, frustrating Dortmund’s attacks.
Though Dortmund’s forwards managed to get past Silva on a few occasions, they couldn’t overcome the final hurdle—Fábio. At an age when most players are retired and watching matches from the comfort of their homes, Fábio stood tall in goal and made three crucial saves, two of them diving efforts. He also made 8 recoveries from 32 touches, proving to be a key figure in keeping Dortmund at bay at MetLife Stadium.
On the other side, Monterrey’s iconic center-back Sergio Ramos took it a notch higher. Not only was he solid in defense, but also crucial in attack. In fact, it was his goal that nearly handed Champions League finalist Inter Milan a shocking defeat. In the 25th minute, Ramos headed in a corner to give Monterrey the lead. Although Lautaro Martínez later equalized for Inter, the match ended in a 1–1 draw.
Beyond his goal, Ramos was rock-solid defensively. Of his 34 passes, 31 were accurate. He also made 11 clearances, 2 blocks, and won 4 duels.
All things considered, even at 39, Ramos remains capable of single-handedly shutting down opponents. Monterrey fans will undoubtedly hope for more such performances from him in the remainder of the Club World Cup.