Fabio Silva on Xavi Simons: ”We often go shopping together and end up buying the same things”
In conversation with… Fabio Silva. The talented striker is making waves this season in the Canary Islands, but at Life After Football, we go beyond the pitch. We sat down with the 22-year-old Portuguese forward to discuss how he shapes his identity off the field—opening up about the profound role of his religion and how fashion has become his personal form of self-expression.
At just 18 years old, Fabio Silva made headlines when he secured a €40 million move from FC Porto to Wolves. The Portuguese prodigy, however, never quite managed to leave his mark in the highly competitive Premier League. This season, though, he seems to have found his rhythm in Spain. Playing for underdog Las Palmas, Silva has already netted an impressive seven goals. We know Fabio Silva well from his peridode in the Netherlands at PSV, where we spoke to him about his style of dress, tattoos, fashion sense in the dressing room, and his free time activities.
We noticed tattoos on your left arm during the photoshoot. Can you tell us what they mean?
Fabio Silva: “I’m a very religious person and believe in God. That’s why I have tattoos of Jesus and Mary—they give me a special, positive energy. Whenever I’m back in Portugal, I always visit places like Fátima (a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site). When I first started getting tattoos, my father wasn’t a big fan, but over time, he grew to like them.”
”Before getting a tattoo, I always think about what I’ll see when I look at my arm. I need to feel and recognize myself in it. All my tattoos have a meaning, and I definitely want more in the future. The hardest part is getting started, but once you do, you just want to cover your whole body with them, haha. We’ll see what comes next!”
How would you describe your personal style?
“I love experimenting with different clothing pieces. Wearing ‘normal’ clothes isn’t for me. If you look around, most people wear the same kind of shoes—you’ll never see me doing that. Fashion is a way to showcase your personality, and mine is different from most.
Sometimes, people look at me and say, ‘Oh, that’s not great,’ because they find my style unusual. But I love it. The most important thing is feeling comfortable in what you wear—it gives you a sense of freedom. For example, if I see a jacket I like, my mom might say, ‘That’s awful,’ but I’ll buy it anyway because I like it.”
Do you take inspiration from other footballers’ fashion styles?
“Yeah, there are plenty of footballers who, like me, have a style that’s different from the ‘normal’ look. Among Portuguese players, Rafael Leão is one of them. At PSV, I’d say I have the best style, haha, although Xavi Simons also has a great one. We often go shopping together and end up buying the same things—our styles are almost identical.
I also get a lot of inspiration from people outside of football. I’m very active on Instagram, and if I come across someone with a great style, I’ll follow them right away.”
Many footballers are constantly focused on the game. Do you feel a sense of freedom in your life?
“As a footballer, it’s important to have both sides. What happens on the pitch is the most crucial—if you don’t perform well there, you have fewer opportunities, like interviews with magazines or sponsorship deals with brands. I stay focused on football, but I also enjoy doing things outside of it. At the end of the day, we’re just like everyone else—we have a personal life, our own style, and so much more.”
How do you like to spend your free time?
“I spend a lot of time with my friends. I enjoy going out for dinner and shopping. In the summer, when I’m in Portugal, you’ll often find me at the beach. When it’s warm, there’s no better place to be!”
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