Brazil captain Dani Alves insists his aim is still to play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, even though he will be 39 when it takes place.
Currently playing at São Paulo, Alves told the Guardian newspaper that he will not retire from international duty.
“I want to be champion in Qatar 2022 to close an era in Brazil. Do you know what motivates me the most? When nobody believes in me and they say ‘he can’t play as a midfielder, he’s worthless and he’s old’.
“I’m going to work like a son of a bitch for it. The sports director of Sao Paulo, Diego Lugano, said to me: ‘how is it possible that this small body has won more titles than anyone in the history of football?’ I replied that it was not my body, but my soul. It’s all in my head.
“There are many players who just want the ball. Sometimes you can cause more damage without it than with it and this is a great skill.
“That is what Guardiola taught me at Barça. When I understood that, I finished the season with about 18 assists.”
