Former Brazilian football star Dani Alves and wife party for two days following overturned sexual assault conviction

Dani Alves and his wife Joana Sanz. Photo by Instagram/@joanasanz

The court ruled that the original verdict contained "inconsistencies and contradictions," leading to the annulment of Alves' sexual assault conviction on March 28. The news came as a significant relief to Alves, who had been convicted in 2023 for the sexual assault of a woman in a Barcelona nightclub.

After the verdict was announced, Alves returned home to Barcelona in the afternoon but declined to comment on the ruling, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

His close friend, Bruno Brasil, who had been with him on the night of the incident, joined him shortly after. An hour later, Alves' wife Sanz returned home.

Marca reported that Alves played music to celebrate, and the festivities continued throughout the night.

"Alves has always been a cheerful guy throughout his football career, so it’s no surprise that he welcomed the news with a celebration," the newspaper commented.

Sanz also took to social media to express her feelings. "I have been criticized, insulted, threatened and mistreated for two years like I were the accused," she wrote on Instagram. "Despite the damage from the media and public, I have stood firm, didn’t give up as many expected, stayed true to my beliefs and defended my opinion without being blinded by others. Please stop showing hatred to people that you barely even know."

Alves and Sanz began dating in 2015 and married in Ibiza, Spain, in 2017. Following Alves' arrest, Sanz filed for divorce, stating that it was not because of the sexual assault allegations but due to Alves' infidelity. However, when she appeared as a witness in court, she clarified that they had not "officially" divorced.

Despite the challenges, Alves and Sanz remained together. After Alves' release from prison, the couple shared affectionate photos on social media. They were also seen holding hands in April 2024.

Alves' career, which earned him nearly $60 million over the years, includes a salary of $11 million annually during his time playing for Barcelona. After moving to UNAM in Mexico in 2022, Alves earned $325,000 weekly. However, following his arrest, UNAM terminated his contract and demanded $5 million in compensation.

Now that his conviction has been overturned, Alves is considering a lawsuit against UNAM for terminating his contract without cause. He plans to seek $2 million in compensation for the termination and pursue legal action for "moral damages, defamation and unfair dismissal."

Alves, 41, is regarded as one of the best full-backs of all time and also one of the most decorated players with 42 trophies, having played for major European clubs like Barcelona, Juventus and PSG.