DANI ALVES is set to become lucky number 13 against when Brazil take on Peru tonight.
Only 12 players have won 100 caps for the Samba stars — and the Juventus right-back will complete his century in Lima.
Alves’ immense talent and sensational achievements have often been overlooked due to his less-than-serious social medial profile.
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But it’s worth pointing out that last season’s La Liga and Copa del Rey victories made him the third most successful footballer of all-time — overtaking Gary Neville’s haul of 31 trophies.
He is now only behind Vitor Baia (35) and Ryan Giggs (36).
He is just one medal off equalling Paolo Maldini as the most decorated player in European football history.
With Sevilla, he won the Uefa Cup in consecutive years and then became an important piece of arguably the greatest club side in football history —winning the Champions League three times.
Alves is now at Juventus, and the Serie A giants have won the last six trophies on offer, and could add the 2016 Italian Super Cup on December 23.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Brazil's Centurions
Cafu — 149
Roberto Carlos — 132
Rivelino — 120
Pele — 113
Djalma Santos — 113
Taffarel — 108
Lucio — 107
Leao — 105
Ronaldo — 105
Gylmar — 102
Jairzinho — 101
Ronaldinho — 101
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His tally of 100 La Liga assists is bettered only Lionel Messi and Luis Figo.
Alves earned his first official cap against Ecuador on October 10, 2006 — and was included in the victorious 2007 Copa America squad.
Alves scored the third as Brazil beat Argentina 3-0 in the final.
And he added the Confederations Cup in 2009 — retaining the trophy four years later.
The full-back appeared in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
For years, he had to vie with Maicon for that right-back slot at Brazil and — forget his brief period at Manchester City, this was quality defender — was often second-choice.
But Alves has since become a symbol for his country and a mainstay in every starting XI.
Cafu holds the record of Brazil caps with 149.
Dani Alves' achievements
Sevilla
Copa del Rey — 2006–07
Supercopa de Espana — 2007
Uefa Cup (2) — 2005–06, 2006–07
Uefa Super Cup — 2006
Barcelona
La Liga (6) — 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
Copa del Rey (4) — 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16
Supercopa de Espana (4) — 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
Uefa Champions League (3) — 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
Uefa Super Cup (3) — 2009, 2011, 2015
Fifa Club World Cup (3) — 2009, 2011, 2015
International[
Brazil
Copa América —2007
FIFA Confederations Cup (2) — 2009, 2013
FIFA World Youth Championship — 2003
Individual
FifPro World XI (5) — 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
And, with the expected victory — and revenge — over Peru likely to seal the country’s passage to the 2018 World Cup, who would bet against him beating it?
Alves’ biggest crime has been having personality, because on the pitch, he’s been consistently one of the best around.
Rarely makes mistakes and is a class act both going forward and in defence.
A winner and fantastic footballer — who Barcelona will have to go some way to replace.
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