Son of Brazilian legend, ballboy and young Chelsea player – isn’t that something?
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 02.10.25. | 22:50
In Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Benfica, the son of the former Chelsea and Brazil player was spotted as a ballboy
Chelsea may be witnessing the early stages of a family legacy after one of their icons’ sons was seen working as a ballboy on Tuesday night.
The Blues secured their first Champions League victory of the campaign with a 1-0 win over Benfica at Stamford Bridge, on the evening of Jose Mourinho’s highly anticipated return.
Among the youngsters on ballboy duty was a promising academy player whose father happens to be one of the finest defenders of modern times. The 16-year-old, currently featuring for Chelsea’s U18 side, was captured in photos during the match.
That player is Isago da Silva, the eldest son of Thiago Silva, who represented Chelsea from 2020 to 2024 and lifted the Champions League during his spell.
Like his father, Isago plays as a central defender and was a standout for the U15s when they clinched the Premier League Floodlit Super Cup last year. And it might not stop with him — his younger brother, Iago, is also part of the Blues’ youth academy, raising the possibility of two Silvas wearing Chelsea blue in the future.
Thiago Silva’s son, Isago, was on Champions League duty at Stamford Bridge last night. 💙✨ pic.twitter.com/LA26aGoXL9
— O-O-P (@okiTwits) October 1, 2025
The road ahead, however, will not be straightforward. Chelsea have long been criticized for limiting opportunities for academy graduates, though in recent seasons a handful have broken through.
Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong have all earned senior minutes in the past few years, showing there is at least some pathway available.
Isago himself posted photos from his ballboy role at Stamford Bridge, and should he eventually establish himself as a Chelsea player, those images could become cherished keepsakes from the beginning of his journey.
💙🇧🇷 Thiago Silva’s son Isago signed as first-year scholars with Chelsea ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. pic.twitter.com/nhGuQtXBcB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 18, 2025
Back in 2023, Thiago Silva spoke of how much it would mean to him to see his sons succeed at the club.
"I have to say, at every club I've been at, I've felt a lot of love from the clubs themselves and the fans, but here it feels a little bit different, because of the fact that my kids are playing in the team too," Silva explained. "For me, it would be a dream to see them play professionally at Chelsea. I love watching them, ultimately, and I try to help them as much as I can."
