Paulo da Silva

Paulo César da Silva Barrios (born 1 February 1980) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays for Independiente in Paraguay, as a centre-back.

This article is about the Paraguayan footballer. For the Brazilian wrestler, see Giant Silva. For the Brazilian footballer, see Paulo Rodrigues da Silva.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Da Silva and the second or maternal family name is Barrios.

Paulo da Silva
Da Silva in 2011
Personal information
Full name Paulo César da Silva Barrios[1]
Date of birth (1980-02-01) 1 February 1980
Place of birth Asunción, Paraguay
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 12 de Junio
Number 13
Youth career
Atlántida
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995 Atlántida 36 (0)
1996 Presidente Hayes
1997 Sport Colombia
1997–1998 Cerro Porteño 30 (1)
1998–1999 Perugia 2 (0)
1999–2000 Lanús 14 (1)
2000–2001 Venezia 7 (0)
2001 Cosenza 2 (0)
2002–2003 Libertad 30 (2)
2003–2009 Toluca 235 (20)
2009–2011 Sunderland 24 (0)
2011–2012 Zaragoza 42 (1)
2012–2015 Pachuca 33 (2)
2013–2015 → Toluca (loan) 76 (12)
2015–2017 Toluca 72 (2)
2017–2021 Libertad 50 (0)
2021–2022 12 de Octubre 67 (2)
2023 Independiente 8 (0)
2023- 12 de Junio 4 (0)
International career
1994[3] Paraguay U17
1999 Paraguay U20 14 (3)
2000 Paraguay U23
2000–2017 Paraguay 148 (3)
Medal record
Representing  Paraguay
Copa América
Runner-up2011 ArgentinaTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 August 2023 (UTC)

He has previously played top-flight football in Paraguay, Italy, Argentina, England and Spain.

He played for the Paraguay national team from 2000 to 2017, and is their most-capped player of all time, earning over 100 caps. He played at two World Cups and three Copa América tournaments, helping his country finish as runners-up in the 2011 Copa América.[4]

In 2015, da Silva became a naturalized Mexican citizen.[5]

Club career

Early career

Born in Asunción, Da Silva started his career in the youth divisions of Atlántida Sport Club, arriving at the club at the age of 13.[6] In 1996, da Silva reached the Primera División Paraguaya with Asunción team Presidente Hayes at the age of 16.[7]

Mexico

Before joining Toluca, da Silva played for Perugia and Venezia of Italy, and Lanús of Argentina. He joined Toluca from Paraguayan Club Libertad for the 2003 Apertura. After making his debut, da Silva was a mainstay in Toluca's defence, starting all but one game that he has played and eventually becoming the team's captain due to his leadership on the field. In 2007, he was chosen for the "Ideal Eleven" squad of South America[8] and in 2008 he led Toluca to the Apertura 2008 title, being chosen as the best overall player of the tournament by the Mexican media.[9]

Sunderland

On 13 July 2009, Da Silva joined English club Sunderland on a three-year deal. Manager Steve Bruce said "I'm delighted to have signed a player of Paulo's experience. He is captain of his country and has played at the highest level in South America, so will bring leadership qualities to our side."[10] His arrival at the Stadium of Light was followed by a long and confusing period in regards to his visa application. Da Silva was granted a work permit to play in England almost immediately, but had to wait for over a month to get his visa before it was eventually granted on 12 August.

He made his debut on 24 August against Norwich City in the League Cup second round, playing the whole 90 minutes of a 4–1 away win.[11] On 12 September he made his first Premier League appearance, replacing Steed Malbranque for the final ten minutes of a 4–1 home win over Hull City.[12]

Da Silva was rotated throughout his first season at the club, but performed consistently when required. Manager Steve Bruce cited 'settlement' as the reason behind playing Da Silva in phases, stating he needed time to adjust to the English game and lifestyle. He was joined at the club by his international teammate Cristian Riveros in May 2010. Da Silva's second season at Sunderland saw him make just three appearances, only one as a starter.[13] His last appearance for Sunderland came in their home defeat to Notts County in the FA Cup on 8 January 2011.

Real Zaragoza

Da Silva joined Real Zaragoza from Sunderland on 31 January 2011 for an undisclosed fee, with his new club in 15th in La Liga at the time.[13] They finished the season in 13th.

Toluca

Da Silva re-joined Toluca on 31 May 2013 in a two-year loan deal from Pachuca.[14]

On 11 May 2015, Toluca announced they had signed da Silva permanently.

In December 2015, da Silva received a Mexican naturalization to disoccupy a foreign place in Toluca's team.[15]

Return to Paraguay

On 26 June 2017, Da Silva returned to Paraguay to play for Club Libertad[16]

In March 2020, da Silva stated that he wanted to retire at Atlántida Asunción.[17]

In December 2021, the 41-year-old da Silva[18] announced that the 2022 season would be his last.[19][20] However, in 2023 he is still playing with 12 de Junio in Nacional B.

International career
Da Silva during a friendly match against Australia in October 2010

In 1994, da Silva was selected for the Paraguay U17 national team barely aged 14.[3]

In 2000, da Silva represented Paraguay U23 at the 2000 CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament.[21]

He played for Paraguay in 1997 and 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, but missed the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. However, he was named in the 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He also played at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,[22] featuring in all five of Paraguay's games in their run to the quarter-finals, and provided an assist for Sunderland teammate Cristian Riveros in their 2–0 win against Slovakia in the group stages.

Personal life

In December 2015, da Silva became a Mexican citizen.[23]

Career statistics
Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each da Silva goal.
List of international goals scored by Paulo da Silva[24]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
121 November 2007Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago, Chile Chile2–03–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
23–0
31 September 2016Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay Chile2–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Libertad

Toluca

Individual

See also

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. Paulo da Silva FIFA World Cup profile
  3. "Paulo da Silva quiere ser campeón del Mundo con Paraguay - Deportes - ABC Color".
  4. "Paraguay - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. "Diario HOY | Paulo da Silva ahora es ciudadano mexicano". 18 December 2015.
  6. "Paulo da Silva: "La unidad y el compañerismo son fundamentales" - APF".
  7. "Paulo da Silva: "La unidad y el compañerismo son fundamentales" - APF".
  8. CONMEBOL article
  9. Por encima de todos
  10. "Sunderland sign Paraguayan captain Paulo da Silva". The Daily Telegraph. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  11. "Norwich 1-4 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  12. Phillips, Owen (12 September 2009). "Sunderland 4-1 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  13. "Sunderland sell Paulo da Silva to Real Zaragoza". BBC Sport. 31 January 2011.
  14. "Paulo da Silva regresa a Toluca".
  15. "Diario HOY | Paulo da Silva ahora es ciudadano mexicano". 18 December 2015.
  16. "Paulo da Silva jugará con el Libertad de Paraguay". www.mediotiempo.com (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  17. "Paulo da Silva contó dónde quiere retirarse". 26 March 2020.
  18. "El histórico Paulo da Silva anunció que se prepara para jugar su 'última temporada'". 19 December 2021.
  19. "Paulo da Silva anuncia su último año como jugador".
  20. ""Será mi última temporada": El ex Lanús que anunció su retiro en el 2022". 19 December 2021.
  21. "Uruguay v Paraguay, 25 January 2000". 11v11.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  22. "404". Sunderland Association Football Club. Retrieved 7 May 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  23. "Diario HOY | Paulo da Silva ahora es ciudadano mexicano". 18 December 2015.
  24. "da Silva, Paulo". National Football Teams. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
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