Veteran Fluminense defender Thiago Silva will be sidelined for at least a month due to a thigh strain, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Monday.

The 40-year-old former Brazil captain sustained the injury in Fluminense's 1-0 home victory over Santos in Brazil's Serie A championship on Sunday.

"Thiago Silva suffered an injury in his right thigh during the match against Santos and will resume training in four weeks. All the best, Monster," Fluminense said in a social media post.

Silva has been a mainstay in Fluminense's defense since returning to the Rio de Janeiro club last July, almost 16 years after he left to join AC Milan.

Fluminense is currently fifth in Brazil's 20-team Serie A standings with six points from three games so far this season.