Fabio (footballer, born 1990)
The steady left-footed twin who forged a formidable career at Manchester United, sharing in a decade of trophies alongside his brother.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Brazilian former footballer·Birthday: July 9·Millennials
Biography
Fabio da Silva arrived at Manchester United in 2008 with his identical twin Rafael, a pair of buzzing, attack-minded fullbacks plucked from the futsal courts of Brazil. While his brother often grabbed headlines on the right, Fabio provided balance and tenacity on the left. His Manchester United career, though sometimes hampered by injury, was decorated with success, including three Premier League titles and a Champions League final appearance in 2011, where he started against Barcelona. After leaving Old Trafford, he carved out a respectable career in England with Cardiff City and Middlesbrough, known for his professionalism and tactical intelligence. Fabio's story is intrinsically linked to his brother's, but it stands alone as a testament to adaptability and quiet consistency at the highest levels of the game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Fabio was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Fabio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Fabio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three Premier League titles (2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13) with Manchester United.
- Started for Manchester United in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final against Barcelona at Wembley Stadium.
- Earned promotion to the Premier League with Cardiff City in the 2017-18 season.
- Represented Brazil at multiple youth levels, including the U-20 World Cup.
Did You Know?
He and his twin brother Rafael were discovered by Manchester United while playing for Fluminense in a youth tournament in Hong Kong.
He is right-footed but played primarily as a left-back for much of his career.
He and Rafael are the first twins to have played for Manchester United in its history.
He scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United in a 2-0 win against Queens Park Rangers in 2011.
“I came to Manchester with my brother; we were two kids from Brazil who just wanted to play.”
