A Spanish court has convicted former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub, sentencing him to four and a half years in prison. Despite being one of the most decorated footballers in history, the 40-year-old had denied sexually assaulting the woman in the early hours of 31 December 2022. His lawyer sought his acquittal, and Alves has the option to appeal against the verdict.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Alves to pay €150,000 (£128,500) to the victim and mandated five years of probation thereafter. Prosecutors contended that Alves and his friend had purchased champagne for three young women before enticing one of them to a VIP area of the nightclub under false pretenses. They asserted that it was at this juncture that Alves turned aggressive, coercing the woman into sexual activity despite her repeated pleas to leave.

Alves had asserted that the woman could have left “if she wanted to,” but the court concluded that she did not give consent. In a statement, the court cited additional evidence, beyond the victim’s testimony, supporting the conclusion that she had been raped.

The court detailed that Alves had “abruptly grabbed the complainant,” throwing her to the ground and engaging in non-consensual sexual activity while preventing her from moving, despite her protests and desire to leave. The woman described the incident as causing her “anguish and terror,” and a friend who was present on the night recounted how the 23-year-old had cried “uncontrollably” after exiting the bathroom.

Alves has been in pre-trial detention since January 2023 and has altered his testimony on several occasions. Initially denying knowledge of his accuser, he later admitted to encountering her in the toilet but insisted that nothing occurred between them. Subsequently, he changed his account again, asserting that they had engaged in consensual sex, claiming they were both enjoying themselves.

The prosecution sought a nine-year prison term. In Spain, allegations of rape are examined as part of the broader charge of sexual assault, and convictions can result in sentences ranging from four to 15 years. Recent legal reforms have emphasized the significance of consent, adhering to the “Only Yes is Yes” principle.

Alves, a footballer with over 400 appearances for Barcelona, secured six league titles and three Champions League victories during two stints with the club. Additionally, he contributed to Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad.