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Dani Alves: The most decorated footballer in history

To celebrate his 37th birthday, Sports Mole takes a look at the career of Dani Alves, who is the most decorated player in the history of football.

Dani Alves is the most decorated player in the history of football, having won an incredible 41 trophies during a brilliant career that started back in 2001 at Brazilian club Bahia.

It is actually the right-back's 37th birthday today, but he is still going strong on the big stage, currently captaining Sao Paulo in his home nation.

Alves's trophy haul at Barcelona alone was incredibly impressive, but the 118-time Brazil international has enjoyed huge success across the board since becoming a professional.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the defender's career, detailing the honours that he has won over the last 18 years, both at club level and on the international stage.


Dani Alves (Bahia, Sevilla, Brazil, Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Sao Paulo)

Brazil's Dani Alves in action with Paraguay's Santiago Arzamendia in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on June 27, 2019© Reuters

Alves has enjoyed a quite stunning career, particularly at club level. The defender's first trophy came at Bahia in 2002, before landing his first silverware on the European stage in 2006 when he lifted the UEFA Super Cup with Sevilla. The Brazilian also won two UEFA Cups during his time at the Estadio Ramon, in addition to lifting the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey during an impressive spell.

Barca parted with an initial £23m to sign the South American in 2008, and Alves went on to enjoy a quite incredible period with the Spanish giants, including a treble in his first season. He won six La Liga titles, four Copas del Rey and three Champions League crowns during his time at Camp Nou, in addition to enjoying success in the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

It would perhaps be fair to say that Alves was fortunate to be at Barca during a time where the Catalan outfit had arguably the best club team in the history of football. The defender was a huge part of their success, though, making 391 appearances, contributing 21 goals and 100 assists in the process.

Dani Alves pictured in action for Barcelona in December 2015© Reuters

Alves certainly left Camp Nou on a high note as he landed the La Liga title and Copa del Rey in his final season at the club, ultimately joining Italian champions Juve for the 2016-17 campaign.

The right-back won Serie A and the Coppa Italia during his only season with the Old Lady before leaving for PSG, where his trophy cabinet became even more bloated with more domestic success.

Alves, who is the second most-decorated defender in European competition with nine European medals, only spent two seasons with the French giants but won six trophies, including successive Ligue 1 titles before returning to Brazil with Sao Paulo, where he is yet to lift any silverware.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves in action during his side's Ligue 1 clash with Monaco on April 15, 2018© Reuters

Perhaps the biggest disappointment in his career has been the absence of a World Cup medal; he has won four trophies for Brazil, including the Copa America in both 2007 and 2019. Alves has also landed two FIFA Confederation Cups but could not help his national side triumph at the World Cup in either 2010 or 2014.

Alves missed the 2018 World Cup through injury, but he has captained the Selecao in 11 of their last 14 internationals, including the recent friendlies against Senegal and Nigeria.

Widely regarded as one of the most effective attacking right-backs in recent memory, Alves has scored 53 times and contributed 157 assists in 751 appearances at club level since leaving Bahia in 2002. He has registered eight goals and 19 assists in 118 games for his national side, meanwhile, and it would be fair to say that the Bahia-born defender has left a serious mark on the sport.


FULL LIST OF HONOURS WON

BAHIA
Copa do Nordeste: 2002

SEVILLA
Copa del Rey: 2006-07
Spanish Super Cup: 2007
UEFA Cup (2): 2005-06, 2006-07
UEFA Super Cup: 2006

BARCELONA
La Liga (6): 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16
Copa del Rey (4): 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16
Champions League (3): 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15
Spanish Super Cup (4): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
UEFA Super Cup (3): 2009, 2011, 2015
FIFA Club World Cup (3): 2009, 2011, 2015

JUVENTUS
Serie A: 2016-17
Coppa Italia: 2016-17

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Ligue 1 (2): 2017-18, 2018-19
Coupe de France: 2017-18
Coupe de la Ligue: 2017-18
Trophée des Champions (2): 2017, 2018

BRAZIL
Copa America (2): 2007, 2019
FIFA Confederations Cup (2): 2009, 2013

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