A court in Spain has convicted former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves of raping a woman at a nightclub in Barcelona.

The 40-year-old, known as one of football's most accomplished players, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Alves, who denied the allegations, had been accused of sexually assaulting the woman in the early hours of a day in 2022. Despite his lawyer's request for acquittal, Alves may appeal the verdict.

The court found that Alves had lured the woman to a VIP toilet area in the nightclub and determined that she did not consent to the encounter.

In its statement, the court cited evidence corroborating the victim's testimony.

Additionally, Alves has been ordered to pay €150,000 (£128,500) in damages to the victim.

He has been in pre-trial detention since January 2023.

During the trial, Alves altered his testimony several times. Initially denying knowing the accuser, he later admitted to encountering her in the restroom but claimed nothing untoward happened.

Eventually, he asserted that the encounter was consensual.Prosecutors argued that Alves and a friend had bought champagne for three young women, inviting one to accompany him to another area, where he became aggressive and coerced her into sex despite her protests.

Alves, who played over 400 games for Barcelona and was part of Brazil's 2022 World Cup squad, faced a nine-year prison term, as requested by the prosecution.

In Spain, convictions for rape can result in sentences ranging from four to 15 years. Recent legal reforms prioritise consent, known as the "Only Yes is Yes" principle.