At a recent evangelistic event in Madrid, Dani Alves told 40,000 people how encountering Christ in prison transformed his life. Tim Bechervaise explores the faith journey of one of football’s most decorated players
As a Tottenham Hotspur fan, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid does not hold fond memories. In 2019, it was there that Spurs lost against Liverpool in the Champions League final, and only last month, our goalkeeper had a horror show in 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid.
It was therefore very welcome to see it in a different light when it recently hosted an evangelistic gathering called The Change Madrid. With more than 40,000 people in attendance, it’s one of the largest contemporary Christian events in Europe.
What made it particularly intriguing is that their headline speaker was Dani Alves. It’s not just that Alves is the second most decorated footballer of all time (behind Lionel Messi) – having won 43 trophies with teams including Barcelona, Juventus and Paris St German – it’s also his life away from the pitch.
“I spent 14 months in prison, but in prison Christ set me free,” Alves began his message in Madrid. “I don’t know what prisons you may be facing, but Christ will break those prisons and walls.” As sermon openings go, it’s quite the way to capture attention.
Encountering Jesus in prison
Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in February 2024 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022. He was later released on bail while his appeal was considered by the High Court. Last March, Alves won the appeal, with the ruling highlighting “inaccuracies, inconsistences and contradictions” in the original court case. However, Alves admitted to lying in previous statements in an attempt to preserve his marriage.
Like the apostle Paul, Alves’ testimony reinforces the depths of God’s grace and that no one, no matter their history, is beyond it.
It was during prison that he had a dramatic and profound conversion experience. He told a youth event in Girona last year: “In the middle of storms and suffering, there is always a messenger from God. That messenger took me to church during the darkest moments of my life.”
Faith over fame
The greatest testament to what happened in prison is how it continues to affect Alves today. Indeed, what’s most striking from his message at The Change Madrid is how he compared faith to the adulation and wealth of being an elite footballer.
“When you have Christ, you are a new creation and the old things pass away. I know what it’s like to be in football – I played in front of 80,000 people. That doesn’t impress me,” he said, adding: “For a long time I was a prideful man. But when Christ touches you, he begins to show you what is important and what is not important. Your fame is not important, nor is your money. I have lost everything. But when I had lost everything, I found Christ Jesus.”
Remember, this is a man who has reached levels of talent and success that are even beyond the reach of most professional footballers. It’s an extraordinarily powerful testimony, one reinforced by the evident emotion in which he shares it, and one that will reverberate in countless, unseen ways in people’s hearts.
It’s also heartening to hear that Alves has since reconnected with his wife, the model Joana Sanz, with whom he’s since had a child.
Challenges ahead
In many ways, Alves’ story reminds me of Paul. “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life,” he said in 1 Timothy 1:16. Like the apostle, Alves’ testimony reinforces the depths of God’s grace and that no one, no matter their history, is beyond it.
The path ahead for Alves will not be without challenges. However powerful our conversion, our pasts aren’t always easy to escape, and his newfound status as a well known Christian will place unique demands on him. Churches and organisations must be wary of over-platforming him, and hopefully he has a network of mature Christians to provide accountability. Recent history offers a sober reminder of the dangers facing prominent Christians when the right structures and people are lacking.
But for now, Alves’ is a good news story to celebrate. “I’m still crazy, but now I’m crazy for God,” he said in Madrid. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Long may that continue.
No comments yet