The 41-year-old won 94 caps and scored three goals during his international career. He helped Brazil win the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played in every single match of that tournament.

"As I've been also to other places [apart from Saint Petersburg], such as Moscow and Vladivostok, recently. It has been nice, you know, the atmosphere that has been created around the country in terms of the competition," Silva said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

He said he was also impressed by the infrastructure that has been developed in Russia, as well as the way the Russian people were embracing the competition. Silva believes that the World Cup presents a great opportunity for people from around the globe to learn more about Russia.

SPIEF is a major global forum for communication between business representatives and the discussion of crucial economic issues. The event started on Thursday and will end on Saturday.

The World Cup will be held in Russia from June 14 till July 15, with Brazil set to face Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Serbia in Group E.