Beyond The Athlete: One On One With Danilo, Juventus And Brazil Captain

In Turin, Italy on May 8th, 2024, Danilo - who is both the captain of Juventus and a regular player for the Brazil national team - is seen observing at the J|Hotel.

Danilo Luiz da Silva, also called Danilo, deals with off-the-field matters just like he handles defensive battles on the field for Juventus. He fearlessly tackles a wide range of questions regarding his plans, aspirations and worries.

Danilo, the captain of Juventus and a champion in the UEFA Champions League, shared his thoughts on what comes after soccer during our conversation at the J|Hotel in Turin, Italy. He expressed feeling afraid as soccer has been the only thing he has known so far. However, he acknowledged that life must eventually change.

The Brazilian soccer player, who is set to play for his country in the 2024 Copa América tournament, has gained valuable knowledge and experiences over the course of his incredible career. He has applied these lessons to his personal life and endeavors outside of soccer.

"In football, just like in life, being resilient is key. You can experience a low point at one moment and have a high at the next, it's a never-ending cycle," expressed Danilo. "You must acknowledge that when you're in a tough spot, you must push through and keep your mind concentrated if you want to reach the pinnacle again."

In Turin, Italy on April 23rd, a Serie A match took place between Juventus and SSC Napoli at the Allianz Stadium. During the game, Danilo, a player on the Juventus team, was seen wearing a captain's armband in honor of Earth Day. The event was captured by photographer Jonathan Moscrop and immortalized in a stunning photograph.

Danilo is a defender who is widely admired for his great game perception. He has shown great astuteness in his investment decisions, describing himself as a lover of strategy, tactics, and organization in both soccer and business.

Danilo invested R$7 million, which amounts to approximately $1.5 million according to current exchange rates, in Vila Clube. This spot, located in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, offers a variety of restaurants featuring different cuisines, as well as pools and sports facilities including padel, volleyball, and footvolley courts. Danilo's ultimate goal is to expand Vila Clube into a chain with multiple locations throughout Brazil.

While he has a lot of business ideas bouncing around his mind, the one that really stands out as the most thrilling endeavor is Voz Futura, which translates to "Future Voice." He set up this enterprise himself four years ago.

Danilo expressed his enthusiasm for the project as it blends social initiatives with business in an exciting way.

The concept of Future Voice was born in 2020 from Danilo's mind. It came to him when the Covid-19 pandemic was rampant, leading to widespread pessimism across society, from the streets to people's homes and online platforms. Danilo wanted to create a space where people could find positive news and be encouraged to focus on the optimistic side of things amidst these trying times.

In Turin, Italy, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Danilo, the captain of Juventus and a frequent player for the Brazilian national team, can be spotted resting his head on his hands with a pensive expression.

In terms of amusement, Voz Futura creates unique material, including podcasts and documentaries, and arranges gatherings with powerful individuals in the domains of sports and entertainment. On the instructional front, the organization emphasizes the advancement of studies on customs and demeanor. It uses its group of specialists to give speeches and classes that center on improving emotional and social growth.

Four years ago, the company collected its initial investment of R$1 million (around $200,000) from close acquaintances and partners. Now, they are preparing for their second funding round. From the beginning, Danilo had a vision for Voz Futura to become a notable name within the realm of emotional sustainability.

He expressed his delight in the progress and growth and mentioned his eagerness to dedicate more of his time and assets once he retires from playing.

Danilo, who wears the number two jersey for Brazil, participated in the International Friendly match against England. The game took place at Wembley Stadium in London on March 23, 2024. A photograph of his participation was taken by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Danilo knows that he has a lot of responsibility as one of the team captains picked by coach Dorival Júnior for Brazil's pre-Copa América matches in 2024. He is considered an important player for one of the most successful soccer teams in the world. Additionally, he has the distinction of being the first Brazilian ever to lead Serie A giant Juventus, which is the most successful club in Italian soccer history.

Danilo thinks that since he has a lot of fans on Instagram, and is famous all over the world, soccer players should feel an obligation to be a good example to sports lovers and anyone else who admires them.

According to him, it's important to acknowledge that soccer has played a significant role in helping many of us reach where we are today. Therefore, it's our responsibility to inspire others to be the best they can be.

In Bicas, Brazil, Danilo, who is both the captain of Juventus and a Brazilian national team player, takes a photograph with a group of children who are members of Futuro Redondo.

Danilo has been dedicating his time and money to serve his hometown of Bicas, which is located around 150 miles away from Rio de Janeiro. He created a non-profit organization called Futuro Redondo, meaning "Round Future," to assist 200 kids aged 7 to 15 in his community.

Futuro Redondo was created with the objective of removing children from the streets by establishing a spot for them to gather after classes. Here, they were able to engage in sports and mingle with each other. With time, the organization has expanded its spectrum of benefits. Presently, the doctors, psychologists, and dentists in the program provide all-round care and support to the participating children.

Danilo expressed that Futuro Redondo was his father's aspiration, which after a certain point he also started admiring. As time went by, an increasing number of youngsters started approaching them, requesting to become a part of their team. Danilo wishes to take every single one of them, but due to certain limitations, it might not be feasible.

Danilo Emerges As Successful Leader

Real Madrid players, Casemiro and Danilo, proudly showed off the UEFA Champions League trophy after their team won the Final match against Club Atletico de Madrid at Italy's Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28, 2016. The moment was captured in a photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images.

Danilo's strong leadership and self-assurance are the result of his more than 10 years playing at a professional level in soccer. He caught the attention of European scouts when he was a young player for the Brazilian team Santos.

Although, his career in European football began in 2012 at Porto in Primeira Liga and progressed to Real Madrid, Manchester City, and most recently, Juventus, there were some challenges along the way.

Danilo, who is now close to turning 33, shared that in the first 10 months of his stay in Porto, he was constantly thinking about going back to his home country. He found it challenging to adjust to the new culture, climate, and surroundings, and the fact that he was only 20 years old at that time made it even harder. What made it worse was that he kept his fear to himself and did not share it with anyone. Looking back, he regrets not expressing his thoughts to someone.

Danilo Luiz da Silva, from Juventus FC, was seen rejoicing with the trophy after the Italy cup final match with Atalanta BC at the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy on May 15th, 2024. Juventus won the match against Atalanta 1-0. A photo captured this celebratory moment with Danilo Luiz da Silva proudly hoisting the trophy.

Throughout the course of his career, Danilo has had the privilege of being teammates with some truly impressive and inspiring football players. Just to name a few, he has shared the locker room alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos, Vincent Kompany, and Giorgio Chiellini. Additionally, he has had the opportunity to be coached by some of the best managers in the world, such as Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Benítez, and Massimiliano Allegri.

Danilo shared that when it comes to the soccer field, Pep Guardiola has a unique perspective on movement and spatial placement. Now that he's aging, Danilo uses what he's learned from Guardiola to run smarter and assist his teammates with better movement. However, when it comes to managing the team outside of the field, Danilo believes Allegri is the most intelligent.

Each of these individuals imparted their own knowledge to him throughout his journey and shaped his personality into one of triumph, both in club settings and on the national team.

In his professional career, Danilo has won an impressive 26 trophies. His accomplishments include winning consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, as well as domestic championships in various top leagues such as the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, and Portugal's Primeira Liga. Recently, he became the Juventus captain and led the team to a Coppa Italia victory against Atalanta, earning him his latest trophy.

The TIMVISION Cup Final between Atalanta BC and Juventus took place on May 19, 2021 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. Gianluigi Buffon and Danilo were seen representing Juventus on the field. The match was a thrilling experience for all the fans who were present.

Nevertheless, Gianluigi Buffon, an Italian and Juventus icon, as well as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever, entirely transformed his perspective as a man and a leader.

Danilo expressed that although everyone witnessed the skills he exhibited on the field, it was the way he conducted himself outside of the game and showed compassion towards those he encountered that left a lasting impression on him. This admiration caused the player to look up to him as a role model in the world of soccer.

Danilo was inspired by the way Buffon earned respect from everyone in the sports community, including teammates, opponents, and coaches. He wants to become a leader like Buffon, who listens well to his team members.

According to Danilo, the common belief that leaders should talk loudly and give advice to everyone is not entirely accurate. He stressed that listening is one of the crucial aspects of leadership.

In Turin, Italy, Danilo takes a break on a couch at the J|Hotel following Juventus' training session on May 8, 2024.

When questioned about his future plans, Danilo gave a sensible response: "My focus is on Juventus and the Brazilian national team." He went on to explain that his profession demands constant attention, leaving no room for mental disconnection.

Danilo has a contract with Juventus, which will end in June 2025, but he can stay for another year. Danilo loves to win and wants to keep adding to the many trophies he has already won. He really wants to help Juventus win their 37th Scudetto and Brazil to win their sixth FIFA World Cup. The next World Cup is in 2026 and will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

As Danilo was asked about what he planned to do after his career and what his goals were, he took a short break to ponder.

When considering what will happen once he stops playing soccer, he admitted to feeling a little frightened since it is the only thing he has ever done. Everything will change without it. However, the initial action he intends to take is signing up for college and pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. He is interested in doing this for two reasons. First, to concentrate on his own development and self-improvement, and second, to assist those around him with the initiatives he has initiated.

No matter what lies ahead for Danilo, his persistence and personality indicate that he will be well-prepared for retirement from his career in soccer.

Interestingly, I was recently having a conversation with Timothy (Timothy Weah) and Wes (Weston McKennie) regarding our post-soccer plans. They mentioned that they envision me becoming a speaker who inspires and motivates others in the future. Danilo finished his statement with a grin on his face.

"But we have to wait and see: It's not the right time to make a definite conclusion."