Dani Alves: 5 Footballers Who Have Previously Been Jailed as Barcelona Legend Gets Sentenced

• Dani Alves has been handed a four- and half-year jail term for assault
• The Brazil legend was found guilty of assaulting a woman in Barcelona
• Alves joins a list of other footballers who have been jailed in the past

Barcelona legend Dani Alves has become the latest footballer to get sentenced to jail.

Alves is understood to have been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for by a Spanish court.

According to Sky Sports, the former right-back was found guilty of assaulting a woman in a nightclub on New Year's Eve in 2022.

The 40-year-old has been in custody since his arrest in January 2023 and is required to pay his victim a compensation fee and court costs.

The biggest World Cup snubs: A list of footballers left out of their countries’ World Cup squad

Football

"The sentence takes into consideration that it has been proven the victim did not consent and that there is evidence in addition to their testimony that proves the offence," the court ruled.

Alves now joins a long list of footballers who have previously been sentenced for various crimes.

Sports Brief takes a look at the top five players who have been jailed in the past.

1. Bruno Fernandes de Souza

In 2010, Bruno Fernandes de Souza was arrested for murder charges.

Three years later, the former goalkeeper was found guilty of the charges and was subsequently sentenced to 22 years in prison.

However, he was released in 2019 after serving part of his sentence in a semi-open program.

2. Adam Johnson

According to Bleacher Report, former England international Adam Johnson was sentenced to six years in prison at Bradford Crown Court.

The former Sunderland and Manchester City star was convicted after he was found guilty of sexual assault.

A list of Muslim footballers who converted to Christianity

Football

He was released in 2019 after serving half his sentence.

3. Ronaldinho

The Brazilian icon spent five months in a Paraguayan prison in 2020 for allegedly using fake passports with his brother to enter the country.

Ronaldinho was eventually released after accepting a plea deal and paying a fine.

4. Eric Cantona

The Manchester United legend was slapped with two weeks in prison in 1995 for launching a kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan.

However, he was released on bail after just three hours.

5. George Best

The Northern Irish football legend was jailed on several occasions throughout his life.

His conviction often came for drink-driving offences.

Dani Alves' wife shares cryptic post

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Dani Alves’ estranged wife Joana Sanz appearing to aim a jibe at the former Barcelona star, moments after he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for assault of a sexual nature.

NBA players who went to jail: 10 best hoopers with criminal records

NBA

Just moments after Alves’ sentence was confirmed, hawk-eyed fans noticed the Brazilian international’s ex-wife Joana shared a post on her social media.