Dani Alves added an Olympic gold medal to his collection after Brazil managed to take home and defend their title from Rio five years ago. Alves played every minute of the tournament and at 38 years of age still going strong and hopes for a new chance to bring home the World Cup, hoping to be part of the finals in Quatar in 2022.
We did see that experience mattered during the Euro’s and Copa America with Giorgio Chielini (36) leading Italy to a winners medal as well as Leo Messi (34) doing the same for Argentina. Then to see Dani Alves lifting the third major international trophy this summer proves that you can be influential also at a major age of a footballer.
The right back has returned to Brazil playing for Sao Paulo, joining the club in 2019. He moved to Europe as early as 2002 signing for Sevilla and from there to Barcelona in 2008 staying for eight years before a short stay at Juventus and then in his final years in Europe representing PSG. He has in total added up 489 league games for the four clubs and since moving back played 70 league games for Sao Paulo.
All of his medals has been won in all competitions and includes three Champions League titles, six La Liga titles and also winning Serie A and Ligue 1. A fantastic collection from his European career and to add two Copa Americas and that Olympic title makes him the most winning man in football.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe is a grand player with all of his medal but there are stiff competition inside the Brazilian camp and no guarantee for such a place moving on 39 when the World Cup comes around. But of course if included Brazil are among the favorites and will always be on the chase with them last winning in 2002.
Ironically the Brazil olympic gold this summer took place at the same stadium as the World Cup winners medal was picked up 19 years ago. At that time Dani Alves represented Bahia and was earlier in the year signed by Sevilla.
Alves was in 2014 involved in an incident at the game v. Villareal being thrown a banana from the stand, he peeled it and took a bite, it all went viral and became a bit of a happening, though the incident in itself shows that racism abuse has not yet been dealth with almost seven years later.
In 2019 Dani Alves did replace Neymar as the Brazilian captain in that years Copa America, scoring a goal in the 5-0 ein v. Peru in the group stages, they later passed all the hurdles and took home the title and Alves being voted the most valuable player of the tournament.
He has always been related to the right back position, but after moving to Sao Paulo, a team he adore and has supported all his life, he was given the number 10 shirt and positioned in midfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis contract at Sao Paulo runs until December 2022 and that is also a month of a special tournament taking place in Qatar, we just have to wait and see if the fanastic right back will be able to win that missing gold medal and fulfill his dream of a World Cup victory.
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