Dani Alves, the former Barcelona and Brazil football star, has been acquitted of rape charges. Alves was found not guilty by Catalonia’s High Court, which cited “flaws and inaccuracies” in the evidence and inconsistencies in the accuser’s story. The court emphasized that its decision was based on the lack of convincing evidence rather than affirming the defense’s version as absolute truth.
“Dani Alves is innocent, and that has been proven,” his defense lawyer Inés Guardiola told Catalan radio RAC1. “Justice has finally been served.”
Alves was initially sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in February 2024 after being convicted of raping a young woman in a VIP bathroom at a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. However, he appealed the verdict, and the higher court overturned the conviction in March 2025.
Alves spent 839 days behind bars and faced significant personal and professional losses, including damage to his reputation, loss of millions in contracts, and strained family relationships.
Alves was one of the most successful players of his generation and won dozens of titles with elite clubs including Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
He was with Liga MX club Pumas when he was arrested. Pumas terminated his contract immediately. His marriage to Joana Sanz also ended in divorce.
Although the acquittal lifts all restrictions on Alves, prosecutors have indicated they may still appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court.
The accuser remains anonymous and has not faced legal consequences following the acquittal. Her lawyer stated that the verdict affirmed “the truth told by the victim and the suffering endured”.
