Dani Alves has done pretty alright for himself, hasn’t he?
Over the years, the Brazilian has turned out for the likes of Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG and now Sao Paulo and he has won plenty of honours along the way.
In fact, he’s one of the most decorated defenders of all-time in European football.
But let’s ignore all of that for a moment, because today we want to focus on one of the quirkier sideshows of his illustrious career; his ever-changing shirt numbers.
Over the years, Alves has had NINE different shirt numbers at the four European clubs he’s played for; three at Sevilla, four at Barcelona and one apiece at Juve and PSG.
Let’s start with his move to Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2008.
Alves was Barca’s marquee signing that season, but that didn’t stop the earlier-in-the-window signing Martin Caceres taking the No.2 shirt usually reserved for first-choice right-backs, so that meant Alves went for the No.20 instead.
But that didn’t last long, as Caceres’ moved to Juventus after just one season in Spain and Alves was able to take the No.2 for himself.
This is perhaps the number we all usually associate with him, as he wore it for the four years that coincided with Barca’s super-successful period under Pep Guardiola.
But at the start of the 2013-14 season, Alves switched to No.22 to honour his friend and former Barca teammate Eric Abidal, who left the club for Monaco.
Abidal and Alves had played together on the opposite flanks throughout their time at the Nou Camp and were great friends; in fact, in 2012, when Abidal needed a liver transplant, Alves offered to donate part of his liver to him.
Having worn the No.22 for two seasons, Alves then decided to honour his departing teammate Xavi by wearing his No.6 shirt, in what was his final season at the club.
Fair game.
In keeping with his fondness for honouring people he likes, Alves went for the No.23 at Juventus to honour basketball legend LeBron James.
And at PSG? Well, he just made up his own shirt and number.