Biography

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Lille (2004-'06) was his first European stop, and after a brief introduction to Ligue 1, he moved across the border to Belgium where, after a six-month stint at Charleroi, he picked up his first league title and got a taste of European competition (Champions League and Europa League) with Standard Liege (January '07-January '09). His powerful build (1.88m, 85kg) and his finesse on the ball then enabled him to establish himself in the Bundesliga.

Lucien Favre made the Brazil international (13 caps, 2 goals) a permanent fixture in his Borussia Mönchengladbach defence before he moved to Bayern Munich two-and-a-half years later in summer 2012. Twelve months on, he would be a Champions League and Bundesliga title winner in a 2013 in which he helped the Bavarian giants to five major trophies. He would go on to win a further three German championships and help his country lift the Confederations Cup and reach the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.

After a season at Wolfsburg where he featured in 23 league games and nine Champions League encounters, he returned to France with Nice in 2016, becoming vice-captain of the side behind Paul Baysse, and contributing his vast experience to a youthful side that would finish the campaign in third place.

When Baysse left the club, 'El CommanDante' was the obvious choice to take on the captain's armband the next season, and he was the most-used player (4269 minutes in all competitions) by coach Favre. He continued his good form under Patrick Vieira, marshalling a rearguard that conceded just 35 Ligue 1 goals, the second-best record in the division. He made 36 appearances that season and reached the 100-game milestone for Le Gym in the 1-1 draw with PSG on 4 May, 2019.

In his fifth season in Rouge et Noir, Dante started the season in style. With the captain’s armband still around his arm, he even scored two goals at the start of the season, making it his best ever scoring record in the same Ligue 1 campaign. A record that he wasn’t able to add to, however, after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the convincing win over Angers (0-3).

Following some incredible work with the medical staff, Le Gym’s captain was back in shape ahead of the 2021-22 season, and Coach Galtier quickly ensured that he remained one of the stalwarts of his defence. With the benefit of his extensive experience, he was one of the main components of the best defence in the league (36 goals conceded). He was rewarded with a one year contract extension thanks to his impressive performances and the Brazilian is now preparing to head into his 7th season with Le Gym and will celebrate his 39th birthday in October.

The Brazilian's fine performances earned him a one-year extension, and he continued his fine form with a seventh season on the Côte d'Azur.

With 49 starts to his name, the left-footed defender missed just two games in the 2022-2023 season due to suspension. Always a consistent performer and vital to the defensive balance of the Red and Blacks - 2nd best defence in the elite - Dante even became Nice's oldest goalscorer when he opened the scoring against Ajaccio at the age of 39 years and 115 days. His performances have earned him another season on the Côte d'Azur. A new season that he is devouring with the same ferocity!

A pillar of the best defense in L1 (29 goals conceded), he was the most-used outfield player in Nice during the 2023-24 season (3101 minutes). At the heart of all the circuits, he was also the man who made the end of the championship easier, by saving his side from Strasbourg with a header that was as important as it was symbolic. At the age of 40 and 193 days, he became the 4th player to score at 40 or over in Ligue 1 since 1947/48.

Our captain extended his lease for a further year on May 22, 2024, much to the delight of both Gym and Niçois.

In the course of the 2024-25 season, he exceeded the 300-match mark with Le Gym. He also extended his lease by a further year in the dead of winter, announcing that the 2025-26 season - his 10th in the red-and-black jersey - would be the last of a magnificent career!

This final stretch of the season has been grueling. Hampered by injuries, the captain played in 19 matches, bringing his total to 329 games for Nice and making him one of the top five players with the most appearances in the club’s history.

The team went through a rollercoaster of emotions. It began its season with a Champions League third-round match against Benfica (0-2) and ended it with a victory in the second leg of the relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne (4-1), securing its place in Ligue 1. All of this came after a loss in the Coupe de France final to Lens (1-3) a week before that final match.

Honored by the Club and the City of Nice as the decade came to a close, Dante met with fans at Villa Masséna before heading to Bayern Munich, where he began his coaching career as head coach of the U23 team.