Dani Alves will become Brazil’s oldest World Cup captain in their final group game against Cameroon on Friday.
The former Barcelona full-back, now 39, was a controversial inclusion in head coach Tite’s squad for the finals in Qatar amid claims that he had merely been called up to act as a minder for close friend Neymar. Alves, now plying his trade in Mexico for UNAM Pumas, will take the armband as Tite prepares to make wholesale changes to the Selecao's starting lineup, with top spot in Group G guaranteed if they avoid defeat.
Alves, who recovered from a knee injury to make his third World Cup finals, said: “For me it represents the fact that I can wear the Brazil jersey. It makes me very proud to be here. I’ve been with the Brazilian squad for many years and to be able to wrap up this cycle, playing a World Cup, makes me very happy.
