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In an unusual scene, former Brazilian star Dani Alves appeared on stage at Madrid’s Riyad Metropolitano stadium not in a football shirt but rather as a religious preacher in front of more than 35,000 people during the Change Madrid 2026 event.
From prison to pulpit
This is not the first time that the former player of “Barcelona” shows this side of his life. He has been seen giving religious sermons on social media before, but he has never done it in front of such a large crowd.
This radical change came after the Catalan Supreme Court of Justice (TSJC) acquitted him of sexual assault charges, for which he was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison, after spending 14 months behind bars.
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“I don’t know what you’re going through in your life or what prisons you’re facing, but I’ve come here to say that today Christ will break these prisons, break down these walls, and break these chains.”
“I lost everything, but I found God.”
In a rare moment of candor, Alves acknowledged the extent of his losses. “I lost everything, but when I lost everything, I found God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When you get out of here, go and never sin again.”
At the end of the speech, Alves said in an enthusiastic tone. “I’m still crazy, but now for God’s sake. I no longer live, but God lives in me.”
“There are people who say, ‘Life is short and must be lived.’ Yes, but hell is eternal and must be avoided.”
Dani Alves, 42, is one of the most decorated players in football history with 43 titles, including 3 Champions League titles with Barcelona.
But his professional career came to a tragic end after he was arrested in January 2023 on charges of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub, before being acquitted by the Supreme Court in April 2025.
