Brazil defender Dani Alves is relishing reaching 100 caps with his country.
The 33-year-old is set to complete his century after a 10-year international career in Tuesday s World Cup qualifier away to Peru.
Former Brazil midfielder Edu – now part of the national team s technical staff – presented Alves with a commemorative shirt ahead of the occasion and the right-back is honoured to reach the milestone, comparing himself to the legendary artist Pablo Picasso.
As a person, I m like Picasso. Those who understand me, like me. Those that don t, won t pay millions for me, Alves told Globo Esporte.
It is a great joy and a satisfaction to reach this milestone. Sometimes I don t know how many good things I ve experienced and am experiencing with the national team.
Since I was 15-years-old, when I left my parents, I knew I would not return anything other than a professional, someone who always tries to do his best at every moment, even if the best is not enough.
I am privileged to be here, because many have the quality to be in the national team and I have been chosen.
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Alves pointed to Brazil s victories in the 2007 Copa America and 2009 Confederations Cup as his favourite moments and insisted he did not contemplate international retirement after Dunga s reign ended in a shock group-stage exit at the Copa America Centenario last June.
He added: All games in the national team are special, unique. But two moments stay with me: the final of the 2007 Copa America against Argentina, I came on and managed to score, and the Confederations Cup in South Africa. These were special moments.
I never thought about abandoning my dream and the Brazilian national team [after this year s Copa].
When we were eliminated, it s not that I did not want to be part of the team, but that I would not be able to continue to do so. I thought someone with a better, bigger outlook was going to take over.
