Dani Alves Biography: Football Career, Age, Net Worth, Family, Girlfriend, Height and Sexual Assault

Dani Alves, born on May 6, 1983, is a Brazilian professional footballer known for his contributions to the Brazilian national team. He is widely recognized as one of the top full-backs of his era.

The versatile player is primarily positioned at right back, but can also be deployed as a right-midfielder or winger when needed.

Throughout his career, Alves has played for Spanish clubs Sevilla and Barcelona before moving on to Italian side Juventus and later joining Paris Saint-Germain in France.

Alves is the most decorated player in the history of professional football, with 43 senior titles

Dani Alves embarked on his professional journey at Bahia in 2001, and later enjoyed a fruitful six-year tenure at Sevilla, where he achieved remarkable success by securing two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey. In 2008, he made a high-profile move to Barcelona for a hefty fee of €32.5 million, making him the third-most expensive defender at that time.

His debut season at Barcelona was nothing short of extraordinary, as he played a pivotal role in the team’s triumphant treble victory.

The following season, Alves continued to add to his trophy cabinet by winning the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Over the years, he played a crucial part in Barcelona’s triumphs, contributing to the team’s two additional Supercopa de España victories, five La Liga titles, and two UEFA Champions League titles.

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Dani Alves Early Life

Alves hails from Juazeiro, a municipality in the Brazilian state of Bahia, where his father, Domingos Alves da Silva, worked as a farmer. Growing up, he engaged in football matches with local children. Alves’ father shared his love for the sport and eventually established his own football team. At the age of 6, Alves initially played as a winger, but due to his limited goal-scoring abilities, his father switched him to the right back position, a role he continues to excel in to this day. During his youth, Alves also worked as both a farmer and a trader.

Dani Alves Club Career

After an average first season, Alves showcased his talent in the second. He featured in 25 matches for Bahia and found the back of the net on four occasions.

Alves made his way to Spain and joined Sevilla on loan in 2002. At the Sanchez Pizjuan, he achieved great success, winning the UEFA Cup in both 2006 and 2007, along with a Copa del Rey, a Spanish Supercopa, and a UEFA Super Cup. Despite being a right-back, he emerged as the main attacking threat for the Andalusian club.

His impressive five-year stint with Sevilla established him as a rising star. His exceptional skills and agility with the ball led to a staggering transfer fee of €30 million, securing him a place in one of the world’s most prestigious clubs, Barcelona, in 2008.

Soon, Alves became an integral part of the team. He provided more assists for Lionel Messi than anyone else at Barcelona, surpassing even Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Throughout his time at the Catalan club, he made a total of 391 appearances and scored 21 goals.

In 2016, Alves made a move to Juventus on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He made his debut for Juventus in August, contributing to a 2-1 home victory over Florentia in Serie A.

Alves marked his first goal for Juventus in a 4-0 triumph against Cagliari, and shortly after, he opened his Champions League account with the club against Dinamo Zagreb. However, in 2017, his contract with Juventus was mutually terminated. Despite his short tenure, he made 33 appearances, winning the Serie A title and Coppa Italia in the 2016-17 season.

Following his departure from Juventus, Alves joined PSG in July 2017. He has showcased his brilliance on numerous occasions, scoring remarkable goals and providing inspiration to his teammates. Notably, he scored a goal and assisted the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the 2016-17 Ligue 1 champions, Monaco. Since joining PSG, he has made 21 appearances and scored four goals.

Dani Alves International Career

Dani Alves’s introduction to the Brazilian national team occurred when he came on as a substitute in an unofficial friendly game against Al-Kuwait Selection, a Kuwaiti club, on 7 October 2006. Just three days later, he received his first official international cap in a friendly match against Ecuador. His impressive performance led to his inclusion in Brazil’s squad for the 2007 Copa América. Throughout the tournament, he showcased his skills in four matches, including the final against Argentina on 15 July. In this crucial match, Alves not only provided an assist for Roberto Ayala’s own goal but also scored a goal himself, contributing to Brazil’s resounding 3-0 victory.

On June 17, 2021, Alves was selected to join the Brazil squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics. In the championship match, Brazil competed against Spain and emerged victorious, securing the gold medal with a 2-1 triumph, thanks to a goal by Malcom in extra time. At the age of 38, Alves made history by becoming the oldest footballer to win a medal in the men’s Olympic football tournament, surpassing Ryan Giggs in 2012 and Ricardo Piccinini in 1988 to claim the third oldest player title overall.

Looking ahead to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, on November 7, 2022, Alves, now 39 years old, was announced as part of the squad. By featuring in Brazil’s final group stage match against Cameroon, Alves achieved another milestone, becoming the oldest player ever to participate in a World Cup match for Brazil, at the age of 39 years and 210 days.

Dani Alves Personal Life

Alves, a Brazilian of African descent, faced racial abuse during his time playing in Spain. On 29 September 2011, he was appointed as a Special Olympics Ambassador for the Global Football program, aiming to promote respect and inclusion in football for individuals with intellectual disabilities, especially leading up to the 2014 World Cup. Alves collaborated with his former teammate, now a rapper, José Manuel Pinto, to release a song titled “Suave” on YouTube on 15 June 2018.

In September 2021, Alves expressed his support for Jair Bolsonaro by sharing slogans in favor of the Brazilian president. That same year, he was named a council member for the Earthshot Prize, an environmental project spearheaded by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Besides his native Portuguese, Alves is fluent in English and Spanish.

Following Alves’ arrest on charges of sexual assault, his wife Joana Sanz decided to separate from him in March 2023. She publicly revealed that he had caused her significant emotional pain and expressed her desire to move on from that chapter of her life.

Alves Sexual Assault Charges

Alves was taken into custody by Catalan authorities on 20 January 2023 and was detained without bail on charges of sexual assault.

The incident in question allegedly took place at a nightclub in Barcelona on 30 December 2022.

The victim reported the assault to the police on 2 January 2023. El Periódico de Catalunya detailed the victim’s account, stating that Alves forced her to touch his genitals against her will, then proceeded to assault her in various ways in the nightclub’s bathroom. DNA evidence matching Alves was found on the victim’s body and clothing, and the victim’s injuries were consistent with her report.

Additionally, fingerprints matching the victim’s story were discovered in the bathroom.

On February 22, 2024, Alves was convicted of rape and received a four and a half year prison sentence, along with being required to pay €150,000 in restitution to the victim. Alves’ legal representative stated intentions to challenge the ruling.

On 20 March 2024, Alves was released from jail on a €1,000,000 bail.

However, he was ordered to turn his Spanish and Brazilian passports over to the police, effectively prohibiting him from leaving Spain; to appear before a court weekly; and to keep distance from the victim.

The ruling which was not unanimous can still be appealed.

The victim’s lawyer reacted saying “to me, it’s a scandal that they let a person who they know can get a million euros in no time walk free.”

Tax fraud case

On 16 November 2023, Alves won a tax fraud case against him which was related to alleged improper reporting to Spain tax authorities concerning his image rights earnings during the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons while he was a Barcelona player after appealing to a Spanish high court. He also received a €3.2 million ($3.4 million) payout from money that was confiscated from him.

Suicide allegations

On 10 March 2024, journalist Paulo Albuquerque claimed that Alves had commited suicide in jail, news sources such as GOAL, Fotomaç quickly picked up on the story quickly after.

On the same day, his brother Ney Alves would debunk the allegations on his Instagram Live broadcast, stating “‘How cruel people can be! He has already been convicted.

Is that not enough? The madness is that people want him dead. They want to see my brother dead.

How cruel is that!” Alves’s press advisor, Acaz Felleger, also denied the false claims that Alves committed suicide and said on Brazilian radio station Rádio Itatiaia that legal action is being considered against the person who started the rumor.

Albuquerque would make another post eight hours later after the allegations went viral on social media, stating that he was talking about his missing cousin Danielzinho from Nova Iguacu and that he had found him alive in the end.