


PORTUGAL LEGEND
Dani
Midfield
Portugal

Dani about playing in the Legends Charity Game
"From the moment I first pulled on the Portugal shirt for the Under-15s, representing my country has always been one of the greatest honours of my career. To have that chance again at the Legends Charity Game means so much to me. Growing up in Lisbon, I’ve seen firsthand how vital community support can be, which is why helping raise funds for incredible local organisations like Cáritas Portuguesa and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation makes this match even more meaningful. It’s not just about football – it’s about giving back to the place that shaped me."
About
Daniel da Cruz Carvalho, also known as Dani, mainly played in attacking midfield during his short playing career that lasted only eight years.
Dani started his club career at Sporting Lisbon, but made his name during his time in the Netherlands at Ajax, scoring a crucial goal in a 1996 - 1997 UEFA Champions League quarter-final game vs Atlético Madrid, helping the team achieve a 3–2 away win (4–3 aggregate).
Internationally, Dani represented Portugal nine times over the duration of five years.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
Club Level
Sporting CP
Taça de Portugal: 1994 - 1995
Ajax
Eredivisie: 1997 - 1998
NVB Cup: 1997 - 1998, 1998 - 1999
Atlético Madrid
Segunda División: 2001 - 2002
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Portugal (1995 - 2000)
9 apps, 0 goals
CLUB HISTORY
Sporting CP (1995 - 1996) 9 apps, 0 goals
West Ham United (loan 1996) 9 apps, 2 goals
Ajax (1996 - 2000) 72 apps, 12 goals
Benfica (2000) 5 apps, 0 goals
Atlético Madrid (2001 - 2003) 64 apps, 10 goals
Total (1995 - 2003) 159 apps, 24 goals