Dani Alves

50 Top Soccer Player their trade today, based on a combination of current form, potential and overall ability.  Ranking  determined by a panel of contributors to ESPN's soccer.

Dani Alves         Rank Player 18

Profile
Birth name                 Daniel Alves da Silva
Birth date                  May 6, 1983
Birth place                 Juazeiro, Brazil
Height                       1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight                      71 kg
Playing position         Right back/Defender
National team            Brazill
Current club              Barcelona
Number                    2

Biography
Daniel Alves da Silva commonly known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian footballer. He plays as an attacking right defender for FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. Before joining Barcelona, Alves spent a successful six year spell with Sevilla FC, winning two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey with the Andalusian side. He joined Barcelona for €32.5m,  becoming the most expensive defender to date.

Alves won the Treble in his first season with the club and a further Spanish super cup, European super cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, thus achieving the Sextuple. Also, he helped the club to clinch another Spanish super cup, two league titles, and a UEFA Champions League in the years that followed. Alves has held a Spanish passport since 2005.  On Thursday, September 29, 2011, Alves was appointed as a Special Olympics Ambassador for its Global Football program, charged with promoting respect and inclusion in football for people with intellectual disabilities, particularly in the run up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Scouting thumbnail
Attacking fullback who's brilliant going forward as a pseudo-winger. Combines pace, vision and playmaking skills as well as superior set-piece delivery. Defensively vulnerable at times and can be caught out of position or muscled off the ball.