Diego Alves Carreira (born 24 June 1985), known as Diego Alves, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Having begun his career at Atlético Mineiro in Brazil, he spent most of it in Spain with Almería and Valencia, making 269 La Liga appearances during the decade he played in Spain, during which time he stopped a record 23 penalty kicks. In 2017 he returned to Brazil, and won several honours with Flamengo, including the Copa Libertadores in 2019.
Alves was part of the Brazilian squad which won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2011. He represented the latter at the Copa América Centenario.
Club career Atlético Mineiro / Almería Alves was born in Rio de Janeiro. Having started professionally at Clube Atlético Mineiro, he moved to UD Almería on 24 July 2007, as the Andalusians had just achieved a first ever promotion to La Liga. Initially the backup to another newly signed, David Cobeño, he eventually became the undisputed starter, helping the club overachieve for a final eighth place in the league with notable performances against, among others, Real Madrid.
After Cobeño left for Rayo Vallecano in August 2008, Alves remained first-choice during 2008–09, but suffered an injury in the final stretch of the season. Fully recovered for the start of the following campaign, he played in all the matches (safe for 30 minutes against Valencia CF, after he had been sent off, and the last round against Sevilla FC as Almería were already saved from relegation); in April 2010, his agent stated a move away from the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos was being considered.
On 20 November 2010, Alves was in goal as Almería lost 8–0 at home to FC Barcelona, a defeat which cost manager Juan Manuel Lillo his post. In mid-May 2011, after his team's top-flight relegation, Valencia chairman Manuel Llorente confirmed the signing of the player.
Valencia
Alves made his official debut for Valencia on 13 September 2011, in a 0–0 away draw against K.R.C. Genk in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. He backed-up Vicente Guaita in the league, however, until Guaita picked up a serious hand injury.
Alves also appeared in the second Champions League group stage match, at home to Chelsea, where he had a series of superb saves, including a string of three in two minutes – two-point-blank against Ramires and Fernando Torres, and a third when Valencia man Víctor Ruiz accidentally diverted the ensuing corner towards his own goal – in an eventual 1–1 draw.
In July 2014, Alves signed a new five-year deal to run until 2019. In the last game of the season, that also marked his 100th league appearance for the club, away against former side Almería, he tore his cruciate ligament in the 72nd minute, later undergoing surgery and being sidelined until November.
Flamengo On 17 July 2017, ten years after leaving for Europe, Alves joined Clube de Regatas do Flamengo until 2020. On 23 November 2017, in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana against Atlético Junior at the Maracanã Stadium, he suffered a broken collar bone after being hit by Yony González; he underwent surgery two days later, being expected to return in two months. With this injury Alves was an important absentee in the 2017 Copa Sudamericana Finals.
Alves played 62 games for Flamengo in 2019, as they won the Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and the Copa Libertadores. In the national championship, he made the Bola da Prata for the team of the tournament.
In 2020, Alves played less than half the games. He was infected with COVID-19 at the start of the year, and also suffered a 20-game shoulder injury against Santos FC. The youngster Hugo Souza emerged in his absence. Furthermore, Alves' position in the pecking order worsened after the Flamengo board bought Santos from Athletico Paranaense in April 2022; as a result he only played in eight competitive games in 2022.
Celta On 8 February 2023, Alves returned to Spain when he joined RC Celta de Vigo on a free transfer. He terminated his contract on 15 April, after failing to play a single minute for the club.
Retirement On 21 January 2025, Alves announced his retirement from professional football.
International career
Alves was chosen to represent Brazil at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as backup to Renan. He did not receive any playing time during the competition, as the national team went on to win a bronze medal.
Alves made his debut for the full side on 10 November 2011, in a 2–0 friendly win with Gabon. He also played four days later, against Egypt (same score).
Alves was selected by coach Dunga for the 2015 Copa América in Chile, but withdrew due to a knee injury to be replaced by Neto. On 5 May 2016, he was named to a 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario.
Style of play Alves made his 15th penalty save against Sevilla FC on 25 January 2015, which took his record to 42.85% of all attempts faced. Widely regarded as a specialist in the matter, he once stated that a penalty is "a psychological battle between the goalkeeper and the taker".
On 9 May 2015, after denying Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, Alves became the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in the history of the Spanish top flight with 16 out of 37, equalling Andoni Zubizarreta who saved 16 from 102. He surpassed the latter on 25 September 2016 during a 2–1 away win over CD Leganés, following it up with two saves the next weekend – including a spectacular block from an Antoine Griezmann shot – albeit in a 0–2 home loss to Atlético Madrid; upon his departure from Valencia in 2017, he had saved 23 spot kicks.
Career statistics Club +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAtlético Mineiro2005Série A102Appearance(s) in Campeonato Mineiro.000——302006Série B2400000——2402007Série A13014070——340Total38016070——610Almería2007–08La Liga220—00——2202008–09La Liga310—00——3102009–10La Liga370—00——3702010–11La Liga330—00——330Total1230—00——1230Valencia2011–12La Liga120—6012Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League.0—3002012–13La Liga240—102Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League.0—2702013–14La Liga270—107Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League.0—3502014–15La Liga370—00——3702015–16La Liga130—0000—1302016–17La Liga330—00——330Total1460—80210—1750Flamengo2017Série A190——5Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana.0—2402018Série A2307Appearance(s) in Campeonato Carioca.0608Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores.0—4402019Série A320120401202Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup.06202020Série A10010020403Two appearances in Recopa Sudamericana, one appearance in Supercopa do Brasil.02902021Série A26050601101Appearance(s) in Supercopa do Brasil.04902022Série A502010000080Total1150360190400602160Celta2022–23La Liga00————00Career totals4220520340610605750
International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsBrazil201120201250201300201420201500201600201710Career total100
Honours Atlético Mineiro Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2006 Campeonato Mineiro: 2007
Flamengo Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2019, 2020 Copa do Brasil: 2022 Supercopa do Brasil: 2020, 2021 Copa Libertadores: 2019, 2022 Recopa Sudamericana: 2020 Campeonato Carioca: 2019, 2020, 2021
Brazil Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal 2008 Individual Bola de Prata: 2019
References
External links
Valencia official profile
CiberChe biography and stats