Happy Birthday mi idol @DaniAlvesD2

This is the story of how I came to adore the best RB of all time.

I started playing football at the end of 6th grade with my neighbours. We used to go to a nearby ground and if it was occupied we'd play in an abandoned street. 1/n

I knew right from the start that I'm not cut out for a goal scoring forward. I liked defending the goal. Playing on the street you don't have the luxury of a wide area. Every pass has to be weighed perfectly and every dribble should be progressive. 2/n

Around that time I started watching matches. I had followed the 2010 WC and 2012 Euros previously but I was too young to understand the system and roles of different players. All this time I thought defenders were only supposed to defend. 3/n

Then I noticed a player running up and down the right flank. Huh weird I thought. The next day I asked my friends and they said fullbacks aka two players on either side of the central defenders can attack too. That was a big revelation for a kid who didn't know anything. 4/n

So I went to yt and searched for Dani Alves compilations. I was literally mindblown by it and decided yes thats the position I wanna play in a 11v11 match. Started following every Barca match and developed my understanding of the game. 5/n

I vividly remember the 2013 El Clasico where Dani nutmegged CR7. Woahhhh. Officially a Dani stan from that day. 6/n

When I turned 13 I joined a local amateur club after convincing my parents. There were a few friends from my school and we had weekly two days of practice. There was a in-house tournament in our club. I was on the bench for the first match and came on at half time. 7/n

I guess it goes without saying I was a right back. I started the next match match and the rest of the tournament. 13 y/o me was a scrawny tiny kid but I was fuckin fearless. I bullied kids twice my size (17 y/o) to the point they changed their wings mid-match. 8/n

The final was a rollercoaster. We were trailing 3-1 at a stage but came back to level the score 3-3. Adrenaline rush of a match. Unfortunately we lost the match in the final minute. My first final and the last goal was in part my fault. I was devastated. 9/n

But for my performances throughout the tournament I was adjudged the best "young player of the tournament". Silver lining. 10/n

So yeah that's about it. Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta were my favourite players growing up. They still are but I don't watch them anymore. Dani Alves ruled the Copa at 36. He doesn't seem like stopping anytime soon. 11/n

I don't know if you're gonna see this but Dani thank you for being the joyous player that you are. Not a day goes by that I don't miss seeing you in a Barca jersey. Muchas gracias @DaniAlvesD2 n/n.