BRAZILIAN soccer legend Ronaldinho faces six months behind bars after his hopes of release from a fake passport rap were dashed yesterday.
The party-loving former Barcelona and AC Milan superstar, famed for his lavish birthday bashes, left a court hearing in handcuffs.
Ronaldinho covered his handcuffs with a jumper while at Paraguay’s Supreme CourtCredit: Reuters
Ronaldinho pictured inside jail for the first timeCredit: Twitter @repollera
He and his 49-year-old brother Roberto deny entering Paraguay with doctored passports.
His defence was dealt a blow when a businesswoman who fixed his book launch trip to the South American country failed to show up in court.
It means Ronaldinho faces spending his 40th birthday tomorrow in a jail threatened by coronavirus.
His appeal against a judge’s decision to swap his jail remand for house arrest was knocked back last week and he was warned he could faced six months inside.
Ronaldinho, a star of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning side and one of the greatest ever footballers, is being held in a jail in the outskirts of Paraguayan capital Asuncion.
His birthday will be a far cry from others including his 26th when he partied until 6am at a Barcelona nightclub.
His 32nd, which lasted five days and cost tens of thousands of pounds, took place at a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Soccer legend Pele sent a greeting after last year’s bash saying: “Whenever I see Ronaldinho he always has a smile. Happy birthday my friend.”
Ronaldinho was arrested on March 6. Last night he was still cracking his trademark grin in his cell.
Just days earlier, he was allowed to take part in a kickabout game with fellow inmates and guards in which he scored five and set up the other six in an 11-2 victory.
Ronaldinho faces spending his 40th birthday behind bars
Ronaldinho is said to be facing a worst case scenario as a key witness failed to show up at court
The entrance of the National Police headquarters in Asuncion, where Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto Assis are being heldCredit: AFP or licensors
Ronaldinho was accused of using a fake Paraguayan passportCredit: Refer to Caption
Ronaldinho the party animal
THE latest blow for Ronaldinho means only a miracle will spare him the sadness of his most low-key celebration since he made a name for himself as one of the world’s best-ever footballers.
Party animal Ronaldinho, being held at a prison on the outskirts of the Paraguayan capital Asuncion with his brother Roberto after allegedly entering the South American country with an adulterated passport, became famed for his extravagant birthday bashes.
He celebrated his 26th birthday with a party at Barcelona nightclub Sol which went on till 6am when he left in a Hummer.
He marked his 32nd birthday with a five-day party at a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro which reportedly cost him more than £11,000.
Legend Pele was among stars and fans to send him birthday greetings last year, with his fellow Brazilian sharing a photo of him with his arms round Ronaldinho alongside the message: “Whenever I see Ronaldinho he always has a smile on his face. Happy birthday my friend.”
The Ballon d’Or and two-times World Player of the Year, who confirmed his retirement in January 2018 through his brother, did not always need the excuse of a birthday to paint the town red.
He was accused of enjoying three nights of partying at a Milan hotel in January 2010 before a painful derby defeat against Serie A rivals Inter. Ronaldinho missed a penalty during a drab display.
Watch Ronaldinho play in first prison Futsal match as Brazil legend scores FIVE in 11-2 win after fake passport arrest
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
