Not even in the most perfect of dreams
did I imagine that today I would be the Brazil national team's captain
or that I would lift a trophy for my country.
It adds great value to my journey, to my life, and to my job.
EPISODE FOUR
PHOENIX FROM THE DUST
Dani Alves suffered a serious right knee injury
just before Brazil's 2018 World Cup squad was selected.
The need for surgery and long recovery prevented him from playing,
for a third time, in the most glamorous tournament in world football.
It was the first time that something like that happened to me,
and I thought that if this was happening, it was because I had to go through it.
Life was really testing how strong I was,
if I was here only to win titles, to get good results,
to reach a certain level or if I was strong enough to face tough battles.
Towards the end of my recovery, I almost had feelings of depression.
I am a very restless person, I'm always moving,
and I couldn’t do one of the things I love the most.
Look...Wait
- Terrible. - Do you like my moves?
Paris, France August 2018
In my mind, this chapter of my career couldn’t end like that.
And I set the target to be called up again to the national team,
to represent my country once more.
And I was like … breathe and work.
Think only about your work, do things well,
the way I can do it, with dedication, discipline,
taking care of myself in and out of the pitch.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
May 2019
Copa America squad announcement
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Juventus. Dani Alves, PSG.
The day that the squad was announced was weird because
I was training at the club and I was very excited,
the squad was announced, people at the club were talking about it,
but I didn’t hear my name.
F**k, that killed me.
Training was over for me right at that moment.
I thought that it was impossible.
When I got to the locker room and picked up my phone,
there were loads of texts. Whew!
I took a deep breath and smiled big,
then I went into the showers to say a prayer and show my gratitude.
We are already there!
It is inevitable to not think
about how the tournament would be in Brazil.
I told the guys, "We should remain mentally strong,
we are coming from a bad outcome in the World Cup,
we will play at home, under f**king pressure."
And then the tournament started in Sao Paulo with doubts,
in spite of our win. Then we went to Bahia and didn’t win.
I used to talk to my teammates, "What is our main target here?
To be Copa America champions."
So, let’s get focused, let’s think ahead.
Then came the first most important match
which was the semifinals against Argentina.
We were very well prepared for the match
and for that final stretch.
And that connected us again with our people, our supporters.
This is an immeasurable connection which happens with good results.
In the finals, there were many flashbacks in my mind,
because the year had been very tough,
I had survived and I was there playing a final with the chance
of being champions at Maracanã again.
Forty titles!
It is part of changing paradigms.
When you reach a certain age...
I will be almost 40 years old at the next World Cup
and I will work my ass off to make it.
It would be much easier to think that I have already achieved everything,
I've done everything.
But when your dream is real and within reach,
why not work for it?
In the next episode