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# Soccer Star Dani Alves Eats Banana That Was Thrown At Him As a Racist Taunt

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by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


Apr 28, 2014 3:20 PM UTC

by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


Apr 28, 2014 3:20 PM UTC

When a fan threw a banana at Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves, who plays for FC Barcelona, he responded by calmly picking it up, peeling it, and taking a bite. Then he seamlessly resumed play and took his corner kick. His team went on to beat Villarreal 3-2.

“I don’t know who threw the banana but I want to thank him,” Alves [told](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2614496/Dani-Alves-EATS-banana-thrown-racist-fans-Barcelonas-win-Villarreal.html) the _Daily Mail._ “It gave me the energy to put two more crosses in for our goal.”

Alves also commented on Twitter:

> [](https://twitter.com/DaniAlvesD2/status/460545574585262080)

This translates to: “My father always told me: son, eat bananas to avoid cramping lol how did they figure this out?”

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