Dani Alves acquitted of rape after 14 months in prison

Former Brazilian international footballer Dani Alves has been acquitted of rape charges by Catalonia’s High Court, ending a legal ordeal that saw him spend more than a year behind bars and lose nearly everything he had built in his career and personal life.

The 42-year-old ex-Barcelona defender was convicted in February 2024 under Spain’s strict consent laws and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The ruling was based largely on the testimony of a woman who accused him of assaulting her in a Barcelona nightclub bathroom in December 2022. Alves consistently maintained his innocence and filed an appeal.

On 28 March 2025, the High Court unanimously overturned the conviction, citing “flaws and inaccuracies” in the evidence, inconsistencies in the complainant’s account, and a lack of corroborating proof. The acquittal meant Alves was released after serving 839 days in Brians 2 prison.

The case had devastating consequences for the veteran footballer, once valued at $60 million. Sponsors such as Puma severed ties, lawsuits mounted—including a $2.2 million claim from Mexican club Pumas UNAM—and his marriage to Joana Sanz ended in divorce in 2024.

Alves was also ordered to pay €150,000 in damages as part of his original conviction, a sum partly covered by allies including fellow footballer Neymar’s family. With his acquittal, questions remain over the financial and reputational fallout he endured while awaiting the outcome of his appeal.

Despite his release, Alves faces the challenge of rebuilding a life and career shattered by an accusation now judged unproven. Supporters argue the case illustrates the lasting damage of wrongful convictions, while critics stress the sensitivity of sexual assault allegations and the difficulty of balancing justice for victims with protections for the accused.

The accuser remains anonymous under Spanish law and has not faced charges in connection with the unproven claim.

Alves, who once lifted trophies for Barcelona and represented Brazil at international level, has yet to issue a detailed public statement on his acquittal. For now, his legal battle has ended, but his struggle to reclaim his reputation continues.