NO attack has flustered Dani Alves like this before in his glittering career.
Swarming wasps pounced on the Barcelona legend as he tried to take a corner for Sao Paulo, forcing a five-minute stoppage to the Brazilian top-flight game at home to Fortaleza.
Star summer signing Alves, 36, is still the bee’s knees in his home country, now skippering Brazil skipper after winning 116 caps.
But that distinguished reputation made no difference to the wasps when the right wing-back prepared to deliver a 25th minute corner.
The former Juventus and PSG superstar – who was linked with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City in the last transfer window – grabbed his neck after apparently being stung.
Other players then got in a flap too over the surprise pitch invasion, some also reacting as if they had been stung, in a video posted by Marca.
And as Alves walked away wincing, they checked his neck for marks.
But Fortaleza centre-back Jackson de Souza was made of tougher stuff than the rest.
The 29-year-old headed to the corner flag, with his top lifted up to protect his ducking face.
De Souza then continued what looked more like an SAS operation than a flag removal – scooping it up and running off to dump it well behind the pitch.
Brazilian referee Lopez held play up as calm was restored.
But the flag had to be returned to the corner of the pitch, due to strict match regulations.
Local media said a plastic bag was placed on top of it to fend off more flying raiders.
And Alves later posted a photo of the wasp intrusion, captioning it: “Not even the bees can put up with us, brother.”
Sao Paulo who were leading 1-0 at the time through defender Pablo’s early goal, went on to win 2-1.
Fortaleza striker Wellington Paulista briefly put the boot in with an equaliser on 39 minutes.
But Igor gomes won it for fifth-placed Sao Paulo late on.
