Dani Alves surprisingly preaches in Girona church

Dani Alves has surprised fans by appearing as a preacher in Girona, Spain, declaring a “pact with God” after finding faith during his life’s “worst moment” following his acquittal.

Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves, recently acquitted of sexual assault charges, has made a remarkable public appearance as an evangelical preacher, telling a congregation in Spain that he has “made a pact with God.”

According to reporting by Goal, the 42-year-old was seen addressing parishioners at the Elim Girona Church, sharing an emotional account of his renewed faith following the turbulent legal battle that gripped the football world.

Alves had initially been sentenced to four and a half years in prison in February 2024 for an incident in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.

However, the High Court of Catalonia overturned his conviction in March of this year, citing “inconsistencies in the evidence” and leading to his release from pretrial detention. The case is expected to face further review by the Supreme Court.

During his sermon, Alves described his spiritual journey and the role of faith during his darkest moments, attributing his current path to a divine messenger who found him amidst his crisis.

“You have to take the things of God seriously and you have to have faith. I am proof of that. I made a pact with God,” Alves told the packed church.

The celebrated right-back, who lists himself as a “Disciple of Jesus Christ” on social media, passionately spoke about finding solace and direction during his incarceration. He connected his experience directly to a spiritual promise.

“In the midst of turbulence, in the midst of a storm, there is always a messenger of God,” he continued. “And that messenger, in the worst moment of my life, picked me up, took me to the Church for the journey, and today I am on the journey thanks to them.”

The public pivot into religious life marks a significant new chapter for the former footballer, who had his career and reputation severely impacted by the allegations and subsequent legal proceedings.