This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
With a trophy cabinet bursting with accolades, Brazil captain Dani Alves could be forgiven for thinking of hanging up his boots. But at 36, he's still going strong, preparing to play a key role in the Copa America final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on Sunday.
Alves, who announced last month that he was leaving Paris Saint-Germain, is currently without a club. But he's not letting that stop him from focusing on the task at hand.
"I know how old I am, and I know what that means in football, but I've learnt that people want results," Alves said. "I'm focussed on that, I'm not focussing on my age nor what people think of me. I'm not here to shut anyone up, I'm simply here to do my job."
"I know how old I am, and I know what that means in football, but I've learnt that people want results," Alves said. "I'm focussed on that, I'm not focussing on my age nor what people think of me. I'm not here to shut anyone up, I'm simply here to do my job." — Dani Alves
Alves's trophy cabinet already contains one Copa America title and a staggering number of other accolades, including three Champions League titles, two French Ligue 1 titles, and one Serie A title. He's also won eight domestic cups across Spain, France, and Italy.
But it's not just his individual achievements that make him stand out. Alves has also been a key player for Brazil, helping the team win the 2007 Copa America and two Confederations Cups.
His skill and determination were on full display in Tuesday's 2-0 semi-final victory over Argentina, where he took three Argentina players out of the game in creating the opening for Roberto Firmino to cross for Gabriel Jesus to open the scoring.
Alves's commitment to the cause is unwavering, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to win. As he showed in the semi-final, he's not afraid to take risks and push the boundaries of what's acceptable on the pitch.
Whether Brazil win or not on Sunday, Alves is already regarded by many as the most successful player in history. He's won a staggering 29 major trophies in Europe, according to Uefa, and 39 trophies overall when including national team titles and domestic Super Cups.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine arriving where I have," Alves told Fox Sports in an interview a few months ago. "I come from poverty, from a reality that many people around the world experience. When I left home at 15 my aim wasn't to win many things, but to return home and that my parents be proud of me."
"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine arriving where I have," Alves told Fox Sports in an interview a few months ago. "I come from poverty, from a reality that many people around the world experience. When I left home at 15 my aim wasn't to win many things, but to return home and that my parents be proud of me." — Dani Alves
Now, Alves hopes to be an inspiration to others from a similar background, using his success to motivate young people to chase their dreams and never give up.
