Champions League final: Chelsea defender Thiago Silva leaves pitch in tears with groin injury

Devastated Thiago Silva close to tears as he is forced off in first half of Champions League final with injury… nine months on from his heartbreak with PSG in last year’s showdown

  • Chelsea defender Thiago Silva forced off after 39 minutes with groin injury
  • Brazilian, 36, looked distraught and close to tears as he hobbled out of the final
  • Silva tried to continue after sustaining the injury but was ultimately forced off
  • Andreas Christensen replaced the veteran in the heart of Chelsea’s back line
  • Silva was on the losing side in last season’s Champions League final for PSG
  • CLICK HERE to follow the latest from Porto in our live blog 


Thiago Silva’s Champions League final ended in tears as a groin injury forced the Chelsea defender off before half-time.

The Brazilian, who lost last season’s final when a Paris Saint-Germain player, hobbled off after 40 minutes against Manchester City at the Estadio Drago in Porto.

Silva had tried to continue but crumbled to the ground a couple of minutes later and had to be consoled by team-mates as he trudged from the field to be replaced by Andreas Christensen.

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva was close to tears as a groin injury forced him out of the Champions League final against Manchester City just before half-time

The Brazilian defender covers his head with his shirt as he trudged off the field injured

The Brazilian defender covers his head with his shirt as he trudged off the field injured 

Silva had attempted to continue after picking up the injury but wasn't able to continue

Silva had attempted to continue after picking up the injury but wasn’t able to continue 

Television footage then showed the visibly upset Silva cover his head in a blue shirt as he took his place in the stands. He laid on the steps in the stands and has to be comforted by Chelsea’s substitutes.

The 36-year-old was part of the PSG side beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich in last August’s Champions League final.

Silva had enjoyed a positive first-half until that point, winning all of his duels and aerial battles as Chelsea kept City at bay.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel consoles the distraught Silva as he walks off the field

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel consoles the distraught Silva as he walks off the field

He was replaced by Andreas Christensen in Chelsea's defence after 39 minutes of the final

He was replaced by Andreas Christensen in Chelsea’s defence after 39 minutes of the final

Reece James embraces Silva as he is forced off injured in the Champions League final

Reece James embraces Silva as he is forced off injured in the Champions League final

Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho console the upset Silva as his final appearance is curtailed

Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho console the upset Silva as his final appearance is curtailed

Silva covered his face with his hands as the Chelsea medical staff treated him in the stands

Silva covered his face with his hands as the Chelsea medical staff treated him in the stands

Chelsea's substitutes and staff rallied around the 36-year-old as he lay on the staircase

Chelsea’s substitutes and staff rallied around the 36-year-old as he lay on the staircase

His withdrawal didn’t immediately affect Chelsea, however, as they opened the scoring through Kai Havertz three minutes afterwards.

Silva has defied his advancing years to feature in 33 matches for Chelsea this season having joined on a free after leaving PSG last summer. 

The defender did have a thigh injury that ruled him out of seven matches in February and March before he returned to Thomas Tuchel’s side to play both legs of the Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid and the FA Cup final with Leicester.