He is not on the pitch this time. But Paulo Silas Pereira, known simply as "Silas" throughout Brazil is very much at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And he arrived with more than a broadcast microphone.
Silas played as a central midfielder and represented Brazil at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, becoming one of fewer than 500 men ever to wear the iconic canary yellow jersey at soccer's premier competition. This summer he is back in North America, providing World Cup commentary for ESPN Brazil while promoting the English-language release of his memoir.
Once described as "the most well-known Christian in Brazil," Silas has been open about his faith throughout his entire career.
The story behind the man is remarkable. Silas grew up in humble beginnings in São Paulo, losing his mother at age five and being raised by a single father alongside eight siblings. He describes himself as a frail and sickly child who went on to play professionally for more than three decades across Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, and beyond - a journey he counts as nothing short of miraculous.
Now he has written it all down. His memoir, Beyond Success: One Athlete's Outstanding Pursuit of Goals, God, and Glory, published by Harvest House, is available now. The idea came to him through his involvement with Athletes of Christ, a Christian sports group in Brazil. "I wanted to share this message with everyone," he said.
The message is not what you might expect from a two-time World Cup veteran. "It's good to be a soccer player that reached the level of playing in World Cups," Silas said. "But beyond success, it's much more than that. Through the book, people can find principles and values to apply in their lives."
"When you reach this kind of level, but maintain a humble position and think more about others than yourself - that's the way to go," he added.
As millions of fans pour into stadiums across America for the world's biggest sporting event, Silas is making a quieter case - that the most important thing he ever won had nothing to do with a scoreboard.
