Getting to know the stars: Dante

VfL Wolfsburg defender Dante joined us in a live Q&A on the UEFA Champions League Facebook page as part of this season's campaign to get closer to the #StarsofUCL.

Best player you've played with?

Dante: There are many but I experienced Franck Ribéry at his best. He is technically very strong, aggressive in attack ... he has everything.

Your favourite movie characters?

Dante: I really liked Will Smith as the father in The Pursuit of Happyness, and also Bruce Willis in Tears of the Sun, where he commands the team sent to rescue Monica Bellucci in Nigeria.

Any sports apart from football?

Dante: The only other sports I play are with my children at home! They are a lot of fun but also very demanding.

Favourite team growing up?

Dante: I used to like Barcelona a lot, because they played so well it was amazing to watch. And they had several Brazilian players there, like Rivaldo and Romário.

Hardest player to defend against?

Dante: Undoubtedly Lionel Messi. He is so fast and changes direction so quickly, he is simply incredible.

How do you make your hair look so good?

Dante: I don't do anything special, it is just like this. I take a shower, I put some balsam on ... here it is!

Who was your hero growing up?

Dante: Pelé used to be on TV a lot, he was still a big presence in Brazil when I was growing up. But I really liked Ronaldo, he was like an idol for me.

Best coach you've worked with and why?

Dante: Definitely Jupp Heynckes. Apart from the fact we won several trophies, I liked that he is a very sincere person who always speaks his mind. I really liked working with him.

What is your routine just before the start of a match?

Dante: I always step onto the pitch with my right foot first, and then I take three small jumps on it. Then I do the sign of the cross, because I am religious. I also have a cross on my necklace but I can't wear it during the game.

Which current player do you enjoy watching most? 

Dante: I love Neymar, he is impressive. He is technically brilliant – when he has the ball you never know what can happen. He is a really special player.

Best and worst moment of your career?

Dante: The best moment was in 2013: in the space of a month I won the Champions League with Bayern; made my debut with Brazil; won the Confederations Cup; and scored against Italy! It was simply incredible for me. The worst was the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup. We wanted to win in our country and we couldn't – it was very sad for us and for our fans. Mentally it was terrible and it took me a while to regain my confidence. It was honestly a very difficult period.

Read more from Dante on the official UEFA Champions League Facebook page.