The invention relates to a sliding bearing element (1) comprising a supporting layer (2) and a sliding layer (3), the sliding layer (3) being made of silver or silver having a maximum content of other metals of 5% by weight, selected from a group consisting of Cu, Sb, Mo, Co, and the sliding layer (3) has a microstructure with grains (6, 7) and has a sliding layer thickness (12). The microstructure changes on the sliding layer thickness (12) from a globular habitus of the grains (7) in the region of a second surface (9) of the sliding layer (3) closer to the supporting layer (2) to a habitus in an at least approximately columnar form, a longitudinal extension (10) of the grains (7) being arranged in the region of a first surface (8) of the sliding layer (3) farther away from the supporting layer (2).