Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves has revealed that he cried only one after it was known that he had suffered a long-term knee injury. The 35-year-old had been dreaming of winning the World Cup with Brazil this summer but unfortunately, he would be playing no part after the doctors confirmed that he would require a surgery to rectify the problem.

In a report on the Players’ Tribune, he said: “I only cried one time, when I was by myself. And let me tell you something — I don’t want anybody to cry for me. I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. I have lived my dreams.I don’t consider myself a veteran. As you can see, my spirit is about 13 years old. Who knows, maybe when the 2022 World Cup comes around, I will still be competing for a place on the team. My body will be 39, but my spirit will have only turned 17.”

Alves has managed to win every trophy within reach in Europe and winning the World Cup with Brazil would surely have topped the lot. Nevertheless, the right-back is not giving up on representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup finals, though this may be regarded improbable, considering his trailing age and the talent pool available from the South American nation.

At present, Brazil are regarded as the favourites to lift the World Cup and there are not much surprises to this fact, considering they recently managed to beat holders Germany in an international friendly in Berlin. Brazil have been pitted against Costa Rica, Switzerland and Serbia in Group E of this summer’s World Cup and judging by their recent performances, they should manage to top their group with ease, though many crazier things have happened in the past editions of the global tournament.