Dani Alves, the former Barcelona and Brazil football star, has been acquitted of rape charges by Catalonia’s High Court, ending a tumultuous legal saga that cost him his fortune, marriage, and reputation. The unanimous ruling on March 28, 2025, overturned his February 2024 conviction, citing “flaws and inaccuracies” in the accuser’s evidence.
Alves, 39 at the time of the allegation, spent 839 days in Brians 2 prison, losing nearly everything he had built over a storied career. The case began in December 2022, when a woman accused Alves of raping her in a Barcelona nightclub bathroom.
Spain’s strict consent laws, which prioritise the accuser’s testimony, led to his swift conviction. Alves was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison and ordered to pay €150,000 in damages, with part of the amount covered by Neymar’s family, while he maintained his innocence throughout.
The accuser, whose identity remains protected, faced no charges despite the court’s findings of inconsistencies in her account. Alves’ life unravelled rapidly. Once worth $60 million, his financial empire collapsed as sponsors like Puma severed ties, costing him millions. Pumas UNAM, a Mexican club, sued him for $2.2 million over a breached contract.
His marriage to model Joana Sanz also disintegrated, with Sanz filing for divorce in 2024. “The game was rigged against me from the start,” Alves said in a statement post-acquittal, reflecting on the personal toll.
The High Court’s decision highlighted a lack of corroborating evidence and discrepancies in the woman’s story, raising questions about the fairness of the initial trial. Legal experts note that Spain’s consent laws, while designed to protect victims, can sometimes lead to convictions based on limited evidence.
Alves’ acquittal has sparked debate about balancing justice for accusers and the accused. For Alves, freedom comes with little solace. His career, once characterised by 43 trophies and stints with clubs such as Juventus and PSG, is now in ruins. Alves faces a fractured family and depleted finances.
Meanwhile, the anonymous accuser walks free, unaccountable for the unproven claim that upended his life. Supporters argue this case exposes systemic biases against men in high-profile allegations.
As Alves rebuilds, questions linger about whether he can reclaim his legacy. For now, the football legend faces an uncertain future, haunted by the cost of a battle he insists he did not start.