When a legendary footballer's son starts making waves, the entire sports world takes notice.
But when that son opts to represent a different country from his iconic father, it becomes a story for the ages. That's the situation currently unfolding with 14-year-old Iago Silva, the son of Brazilian football legend Thiago Silva. The young defender, who plays in the Chelsea Academy, has just received his first call-up to the England U15 training camp.
A new path for the Silva family
Iago's call-up to the Three Lions' youth setup is a fascinating twist for a family deeply associated with Brazilian football. His father, Thiago Silva, is a celebrated figure who earned 113 caps for the Brazilian national team over his career.
However, the family's move to England in 2020, when Thiago signed for Chelsea, opened a new door for Iago. Having lived in England for over five years, Iago is eligible to play for England through residency rules. His call-up is for a non-competitive training camp, meaning he has not yet committed to England long-term and could still play for Brazil at a senior level in the future.
The Chelsea legacy continues
For Chelsea fans, this story is particularly exciting. The Silva family has an enduring connection to the club. Even after Thiago returned to his boyhood club Fluminense in 2024, the family chose to remain in London so that Iago and his older brother, Isago, could continue their development in the Chelsea Academy.
Iago has already been making a name for himself as a promising young centre-back, just like his father.
This call-up is a sign of his progress and talent, and many fans are already dreaming of the day they might see a Silva defending the goal for the Chelsea first team.
Brotherly pride and a bright future
The talent seems to run in the family. Iago's older brother, Isago, is also part of Chelsea's academy and recently signed as a first-year scholar with the club. The sight of the two Silva brothers playing for Chelsea in the future is a mouthwatering prospect for fans.
As Iago himself posted on his Instagram account, showing a picture of himself at St. George's Park:
"Proud moment to be invited to my first England camp. The hard work continues". With two sons on the rise, the Silva name looks set to grace English football for years to come—though they might be wearing the colors of a different national team than their legendary father.