Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Brazil international and ex-Barcelona defender Dani Alves has sparked widespread debate after declaring that he found greater happiness earning just €113 per month cleaning prison facilities than he did during the peak of his football career, when he earned millions of euros. The 43-year-old, who now presents himself as a religious preacher, made the remarks during a testimony at the Casa de Dios church in Fraijanes, Guatemala, on June 14, 2026, during a Father's Day celebration. A video of his address has since gone viral across social media platforms, drawing both praise and sharp criticism from fans and observers worldwide.
"I earned millions of euros, thanks to God and to football. But in prison, earning 113 euros, I was happier than when I was earning millions," Alves said, according to multiple reports. He detailed his daily routine behind bars, which involved cleaning the prison facilities, a task he described as mundane but spiritually grounding. "Before, I was playing football, and now I was in prison cleaning the house. But I had my Father (God) with me. I would say: 'What are millions of euros worth without a Father?'". The former fullback, who played for clubs including Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Mexico's Pumas UNAM, contrasted his former life of fame and fortune with his time in confinement. According to transcripts of his sermon published by the church, Alves claimed that he had "won the world" but lost his soul before finding faith. He also stated that he would not change what happened to him because the experience led him to Jesus.
Alves' testimony comes against the backdrop of a highly publicised legal battle in Spain. He was arrested in January 2023 following an allegation of sexual assault against a 23-year-old woman in a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. He spent 14 months in pre-trial detention at the Brians 2 prison. In February 2024, a Spanish court found him guilty and sentenced him to four years and six months in prison. He was granted conditional release in March 2024 after posting a bail bond of €1 million, surrendering his passports, and agreeing to appear before the court weekly. In March 2025, the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia overturned his conviction, citing insufficient evidence and inconsistencies in the victim's testimony. The prosecution has since appealed the acquittal to the Supreme Court of Spain.
Alves' assertion that prison brought him more joy than his football career has drawn mixed reactions. Some social media users praised his spiritual transformation, while others criticised his comments as insensitive, given the serious nature of the allegations he faced. The Casa de Dios church, in its official publications, presented Alves as a former footballer sharing his testimony, rather than as an ordained pastor. This is not the first time Alves has spoken publicly about his faith since his release. In May 2026, he participated in an event in Madrid attended by approximately 35,000 people, where he credited his religious beliefs with sustaining him psychologically during his detention. In October 2025, he also appeared as a preacher at the Evangelical Elim Pentecostal Church in Girona, Spain.
The former footballer's journey from the pinnacle of world football to prison, and now to the pulpit, continues to captivate public attention. His statement that "millions without God are worth nothing" has become a defining moment in his post-football life, as he seeks to redefine his legacy through faith. The legal proceedings against him remain unresolved, with Spain's Supreme Court yet to issue a final ruling on the appeal against his acquittal. As Alves continues to share his testimony across religious forums, his words serve as a powerful reminder of the profound transformation he claims to have undergone behind bars.
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