Gilberto Aparecido da Silva (born October 7, 1976 in Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais, Brazil), commonly known as Gilberto Silva (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒɪwbetʉː sɪwvɜː]), is a Brazilian football player. A defensive midfielder, he joined Panathinaikos F.C. in 2008.
His first international recognition came with his surprise inclusion in the Brazil squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Gilberto's performance in this tournament led to him being classed as one of the top defensive midfielders in the world.
Gilberto is often called "the invisible wall" (or "volante") in Brazil. His play often goes unnoticed as he positions himself between the two centre backs and the rest of midfield, breaking up opposition attacks before they gather momentum. In this role, he is a part of the defensive unit for both club and country, and he offers cover for attacking wing-backs and other midfielders who have a poor record of dropping back to help the defence.