Dani Alves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dani Alves

Alves with Brazil at the 2019 Copa América
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Alves da Silva
Date of birth	(1983-05-06) 6 May 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Youth career
1996–1998	Juazeiro
1998–2001	Bahia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2003	Bahia	25	(2)
2003–2008	Sevilla	175	(11)
2008–2016	Barcelona	247	(14)
2016–2017	Juventus	19	(2)
2017–2019	Paris Saint-Germain	48	(2)
2019–2021	São Paulo	76	(8)
2021–2022	Barcelona	14	(1)
2022–2023	UNAM	13	(0)
Total		617	(40)
International career
2003	Brazil U20	17	(0)
2021	Brazil Olympic (O.P.)	7	(0)
2006–2022	Brazil	126	(8)
Medal record Representing  Brazil FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2009 South Africa Winner 2013 Brazil Copa América Winner 2007 Venezuela Winner 2019 Brazil Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 2003 United Arab Emirates
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:11, 8 January 2023 (UTC)

Daniel "Dani" Alves da Silva (born 6 May 1983) is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a right-back, a defensive position on the right side of the field. Many people consider him one of the best full-backs ever. He has won an amazing 43 trophies, making him one of the most successful players in football history.

Alves started his career at Bahia in 2001. He then had a great six years with Sevilla, where he won two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey. He moved to Barcelona for a large fee, becoming one of the most expensive defenders at that time. In his first season with Barcelona, he helped the team win the treble, which means winning three major titles in one season: the league, the main cup, and the Champions League. The next season, he won more trophies, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also helped Barcelona win five La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles.

In 2016, Juventus signed Alves. He won the 2016–17 Serie A title and the 2016–17 Coppa Italia in his only season there. He also reached the Champions League Final with Juventus. In 2017, Alves joined French team Paris Saint-Germain. He won a domestic treble in his first season and another league title the next year. In 2019, he returned to Brazil to play for São Paulo, winning the 2021 Campeonato Paulista with them. He played for Barcelona again in 2021 for one season. In 2022, he joined Mexican club UNAM, but his contract was ended in 2023.

Alves played for the Brazil national team from 2006 to 2022. He is Brazil's third most-capped player of all time, meaning he played in the third-highest number of games for his country. He was part of Brazil's teams for three FIFA World Cups and five Copa América tournaments. He won the Copa América in 2007 and 2019, and the 2009 and 2013 FIFA Confederations Cups. At the Summer Olympics in 2020, he won a gold medal. He also received individual awards, like being named in the IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade and winning the Copa América Best Player award in 2019.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Alves was born in Juazeiro, a city in the Brazilian state of Bahia. His father, Domingos Alves da Silva, was a farmer who loved football. Dani played football with other kids in his neighborhood. His father even started his own football team.

When Dani was six, he started playing as a winger. But he didn't score many goals, so his father moved him to right back. This is the position he became famous for. In his youth, Alves also worked as a farmer and a trader.

Club Career Highlights

Bahia: Starting Professional Football

Alves began his professional career with Bahia in 2001. In his first game against Paraná Clube, Bahia won 3–0. Alves was a key player, helping with two goals and earning a penalty for another. Because of this great start, his coach, Evaristo de Macedo, made him a regular starter.

With Bahia, he won the 2002 Copa do Nordeste. His strong performances led him to move to the Spanish team Sevilla in 2002, first on loan.

Sevilla: European Success

Alves with Sevilla in 2007

After playing on loan for Sevilla, Alves played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played very well, helping Brazil win the tournament. He was named the third-best player of the tournament. After this, Sevilla decided to sign him permanently.

In 2006, Sevilla almost sold Alves to Liverpool, but the clubs could not agree on a price. In December 2006, he signed a new contract with Sevilla, staying with the club until 2012. He had a very successful 2006–07 season, playing in 47 games and scoring 5 goals. He played in every one of Sevilla's UEFA Cup matches, a competition which Sevilla won.

During his time in Spain, Alves also gained Spanish citizenship. This was helpful because it meant he didn't count as a non-European Union player, making it easier for him to play in EU countries.

In 2007, Alves wanted to leave Sevilla for a bigger European club. He was interested in Chelsea, but Sevilla turned down their offers. After some disagreements and the sad death of his teammate Antonio Puerta, Alves decided to stay with Sevilla.

Barcelona: A Golden Era

Alves playing against Rubin Kazan in the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League

On 2 July 2008, Alves joined Barcelona. He was sad to leave Sevilla but excited for the new challenge. The transfer cost about £23 million, with more money possible based on his performance. This made him one of the most expensive defenders in football history. He signed a four-year contract with Barcelona.

Alves played his first game for Barcelona on 13 August 2008 in a Champions League qualifier. He made his La Liga debut on 31 August 2008. In his first season, he missed the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final due to a yellow card suspension. However, Barcelona still won the final against Manchester United 2–0, completing the treble by also winning La Liga and the 2008–09 Copa del Rey.

Alves and Lionel Messi during the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final

In his second season at Barcelona, the club won the Liga title again and the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup. In the 2010–11 season, Alves was very important in Barcelona winning their third straight Liga title.

On 28 May 2011, Alves played in his first Champions League final. Barcelona beat Manchester United 3–1 at Wembley Stadium to win their fourth European Cup.

In 2011–12, Alves helped Barcelona win the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup. In 2012–13, he won the Liga title for the fourth time in five seasons with Barcelona.

In 2013–14, Alves wore the number 22 shirt. This number was previously worn by his friend Eric Abidal. Alves had even offered to donate part of his liver to Abidal when he was battling liver cancer.

Standing Up Against Racism

On 27 April 2014, during a match at Villarreal's stadium, a fan threw a banana at Alves. This was a racist act. Alves calmly picked up the banana, peeled it, and took a bite. He later said, "We have suffered this in Spain for some time. You have to take it with a dose of humor. We aren't going to change things easily. If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective." His teammate Neymar also posted a photo of himself eating a banana, which became very popular online. Many other footballers joined in to show support.

Alves believed the person who threw the banana should be publicly identified. A man was arrested in connection with the incident, and Villarreal was later fined €12,000.

Winning More Champions League Titles

On 6 June 2015, Alves started for Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final. The club won its fifth European Cup by beating Juventus in Berlin. This made Barcelona the first club to win the treble (domestic league, domestic cup, and European Cup) twice. Alves, Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Gerard Piqué, Pedro, and Sergio Busquets were the only players to be part of both treble-winning teams.

On 9 June 2015, Alves signed a new two-year contract with Barcelona.

Final Season at Barcelona

After Barcelona was knocked out of the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League, Alves posted a video on Instagram that his manager, Luis Enrique, found unusual. Because of this, Alves was not chosen to play in the next match.

On 2 June 2016, Barcelona announced that Alves would be leaving the club after eight years. Even though he had a contract until 2017, he had a special clause that allowed him to leave as a free agent.

Juventus: Italian Success

On 27 June 2016, Juventus announced that Alves had signed a two-year deal. He played his first game for Juventus on 20 August in a 2–1 win against Fiorentina. On 21 September, Alves scored his first goal for Juventus. He also scored in the Champions League a few days later. On 27 November, he broke his leg in a game against Genoa. Alves returned from his injury in February 2017.

On 9 May 2017, Alves scored one goal and assisted another as Juventus beat Monaco 2–1 to reach the 2017 Champions League final. A few days earlier, he had assisted both goals in the first game against Monaco. On 17 May, Alves scored the first goal in a 2–0 win over Lazio in the 2017 Coppa Italia Final. On 3 June, Alves played in his third Champions League final, but Juventus lost 4–1 to Real Madrid.

Alves playing for PSG in 2018

On 29 June 2017, Alves and Juventus agreed to end his contract. He played 33 games for the club, winning the 2016–17 Serie A title and the 2016–17 Coppa Italia in his one season there.

Paris Saint-Germain: French Triumphs

On 12 July 2017, Alves joined French team Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He played his first game for PSG on 29 July in the 2017 Trophée des Champions. He scored a goal and helped set up the winning goal in a 2–1 victory. On 5 August, Alves assisted a goal in PSG's first league game of the 2017–18 Ligue 1 season.

On 8 May 2018, he started in the 2018 Coupe de France Final, where PSG won 2–0. He left the game near the end due to an injury.

On 28 August 2018, Alves announced he was changing his jersey number from 32 to 13. He did this to honor Brazilian football legend Mário Zagallo, who won four World Cups.

After his contract with PSG ended on 30 June 2019, Alves became a free agent.

São Paulo: Return to Brazil

On 1 August 2019, São Paulo announced they had signed Dani Alves. He had always been a fan of São Paulo and had often said he wanted to play for the club. He was welcomed by 44,000 fans at the Morumbi stadium. Famous players like Hernanes, Kaká, and Luís Fabiano were there to greet him.

Alves shared his excitement, saying, "Do not stop believing in your dreams because they are possible. Now, after having gone around the world, it is the first club that I wear the shirt and I am a fan. It is a thrill to receive this mantle, and the moment has come."

Alves was given the number 10 jersey. He played his first game on 18 August 2019, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win. Even though he was a right-back for most of his career, he often played in central midfield for São Paulo. He also became the team captain. In 2021, the new manager, Hernán Crespo, moved Alves back to a more defensive role. Alves won his only title with the club, the 2021 Campeonato Paulista, which was also São Paulo's first trophy in eight years.

On 10 September 2021, Alves' representatives said he would not return to training or play for São Paulo because of a disagreement about unpaid money. His contract was ended six days later.

São Paulo FC's football director, Carlos Belmonte, explained, "Daniel Alves and Miranda were serving the Brazilian team and should have returned to start regular training for our next games. Miranda attended and trained normally, but Daniel Alves did not attend. We were then informed by his representatives that Daniel Alves will not return to São Paulo until the settlement of the debt that São Paulo has with the athlete. A debt that São Paulo recognizes and last week made a proposal seeking the right outcome, which was not accepted by the representatives. From our point of view, we have taken the decision that Daniel Alves will no longer be available to play for São Paulo. São Paulo is more important than all of us."

São Paulo later agreed to pay Alves R$400,000 (Brazilian currency) each month for five years, starting in January 2022, to cover the money they owed him.

Return to Barcelona (Second Time)

On 12 November 2021, Barcelona announced they would sign Alves again until the end of the season. He could only play in official matches starting in January 2022. In December 2021, he played his second debut for Barcelona in a friendly match. His official return was on 5 January 2022, in a Copa del Rey game. On 6 February 2022, he scored his first goal since returning to Barcelona in a 4–2 win. He also provided an assist in that game.

On 15 June 2022, Alves announced he would leave Barcelona for the second time. He had played 408 games for the club in total, which is the second most by a foreign player, only behind Lionel Messi.

UNAM: Final Club

On 23 July 2022, Alves signed a one-year contract with Mexican club UNAM.

For the 2022–23 Torneo Clausura season, Alves changed his shirt number from 33 to 77.

On 20 January 2023, UNAM decided to end Alves' contract with the club.

International Career with Brazil

Early Career and First Copa América Title

Alves played his first unofficial game for Brazil on 7 October 2006. Three days later, he played his first official international game against Ecuador. He was chosen for Brazil's team for the 2007 Copa América. He played in four matches, including the final against Argentina on 15 July. In that game, he assisted a goal and scored one himself in Brazil's 3–0 victory.

Confederations Cup and World Cup Appearances

Even though he was a very expensive right-back, Alves didn't always start for the Brazilian national team at first. Maicon was often chosen ahead of him. Alves came on as a substitute in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final against South Africa and scored the winning goal from a free-kick in the 88th minute. The next summer, he was part of Brazil's team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored another long-range free-kick against Iran on 7 October 2010. The following year, Alves was in Brazil's squad for the 2011 Copa América.

Alves celebrates the win of the 2013 Confederations Cup title

Alves was one of the 23 players chosen by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. He started in Brazil's 3–0 win over Spain in the final on 30 June.

On 7 May 2014, Alves was named to Brazil's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He lost his starting position during the tournament because he wasn't playing his best. After Brazil beat Colombia 2–1 in the quarter-finals, Alves and teammate David Luiz were praised for comforting James Rodríguez from the opposing team. This act of sportsmanship was admired by Rodríguez and the media.

Copa América and Olympic Gold

Alves was a starter in both the 2015 and Centenario tournaments. He kept his position when Tite became manager and helped Brazil qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, he couldn't play in the tournament due to a knee injury.

In May 2019, he was included in Brazil's squad for the 2019 Copa América in Brazil. He became Brazil's captain for the tournament, taking over from Neymar. In a group match against Peru on 22 June, Alves scored in a 5–0 win, which helped Brazil reach the quarter-finals. In the final on 7 July, Brazil faced Peru again and won 3–1 to claim the title. Alves was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. This was the 40th title of his career.

On 17 June 2021, Alves was named in the Brazil squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics. In the final, Brazil beat Spain 2–1 after extra time to win the gold medal. At 38 years old, Alves became the oldest footballer to win a medal in the men's Olympic football tournament.

On 7 November 2022, at age 39, Alves was chosen for the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. By starting in Brazil's final group stage game against Cameroon, Alves became the oldest player ever to play in a World Cup match for Brazil, at 39 years and 210 days old.

Playing Style and Skills

Alves competing for the ball against Chile's Gonzalo Jara at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Dani Alves is known as one of the best full-backs of his time. He is an attacking right-back or wing-back. He is famous for his speed, energy, and his runs forward to join the attack. He also has great technical skills, which means he can play in midfield or as a winger.

Alves is good at crossing the ball and passing, which helps him connect with midfielders and create scoring chances from the right side of the field. He can also shoot accurately and score goals, especially from outside the penalty area or from long-range free-kicks.

Even though he isn't very big, he is strong and determined. His energy and ability to predict plays help him stop passes and pressure opponents when they have the ball. This means he helps his team both in attack and defense. However, sometimes he has been criticized for not focusing enough on his defensive duties.

During his time with Paris Saint-Germain and São Paulo, he sometimes played as a central midfielder. He liked playing in the middle because it allowed him to touch the ball more often and create more chances for his team. He felt more involved in the game from that position. Alves once said, "I created a new way of playing as a full-back. No false modesty. I am always adapting to my teammates. If they're wide, I'll go into the middle. If they're attacking, I'll help with the control. If the ball's on the other side, I tuck in. I play as a creative midfielder from the back."

Personal Life and Interests

Dani Alves is a black Brazilian. He faced racist comments while playing football in Spain.

In 2011, Alves became a Special Olympics Ambassador for their Global Football program. His role was to promote respect and inclusion in football for people with intellectual disabilities.

In 2015, Alves publicly supported the campaign for international recognition of the Armenian genocide. He later apologized to his Turkish fans, saying he didn't mean to cause any offense.

In 2018, Alves released a song called "Suave" on YouTube with his former teammate, José Manuel Pinto, who became a rapper.

In September 2021, Alves showed his support for Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. That same year, Alves was chosen as a council member for the Earthshot Prize, an environmental project led by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Besides his native Portuguese, Alves also speaks English and Spanish.

Career Statistics

Club

Notes:

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Alves goal.

List of international goals scored by Dani Alves

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	15 July 2007	Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela	Argentina	3–0	3–0	2007 Copa América Final
2	6 June 2009	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay	Uruguay	1–0	4–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	25 June 2009	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa	1–0	1–0	2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
4	7 October 2010	Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	Iran	1–0	3–0	Friendly
5	11 October 2010	Pride Park Stadium, Derby, England	Ukraine	1–0	2–0	Friendly
6	3 June 2014	Estádio Serra Dourada, Goiás, Brazil	Panama	2–0	4–0	Friendly
7	29 March 2016	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	Paraguay	2–2	2–2	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
8	22 June 2019	Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil	Peru	4–0	5–0	2019 Copa América

Honours and Achievements

Bahia

• Copa do Nordeste: 2002

Sevilla

• Copa del Rey: 2006–07
• Supercopa de España: 2007
• UEFA Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07
• UEFA Super Cup: 2006

Alves after winning the 2015 UEFA Super Cup

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015

Juventus

• Serie A: 2016–17
• Coppa Italia: 2016–17

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2017–18, 2018–19
• Coupe de France: 2017–18; runner-up: 2018–19
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2017–18
• Trophée des Champions: 2017

São Paulo

• Campeonato Paulista: 2021

Brazil U20

• FIFA World Youth Championship: 2003

Brazil Olympic

• Summer Olympics: 2020

Brazil

• Copa América: 2007, 2019
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2009, 2013

Individual

• FIFA U-20 World Cup Bronze Ball: 2003
• UEFA Cup Most Valuable Player: 2005–06
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017
• ESM Team of the Year: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
• FIFA FIFPro World11: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• La Liga Defender of the Season: 2008–09
• FIFA Confederations Cup Team of the Tournament: 2013
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2014–15
• France Football World XI: 2015
• Serie A Team of the Year: 2016–17
• IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2017–18
• Copa América Golden Ball: 2019
• Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2019
• IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
• Campeonato Paulista Team of the Tournament: 2020

Records

• Most UEFA Super Cup titles: (4) (shared with six players) (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
• Most UEFA Super Cup final appearances: (5) (shared with four players) (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015)

See also

In Spanish: Dani Alves para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• List of men's footballers with the most official appearances
• List of FC Barcelona players (100+ appearances)
• List of La Liga players (400+ appearances)
• List of world association football records