RONALDINHO did it all on the biggest stages during his illustrious professional career – winning the World Cup, the Champions League and LaLiga, to name just a few.
But now he has shown off his freakish footballing ability in rather different settings… at a prison Futsal match.
Ronaldinho reportedly scored five and assisted six in a fine individual performance at a Paraguayan prison
The Brazilian icon, 39, is currently being detained at Agrupacion Especializada in Paraguay after allegedly entering the country with a fake passport alongside his brother.
According to Paraguayan newspaper Hoy, the Ballon d’Or winner was convinced to join in as he watched the match unfold while talking to a prison guard.
Although reluctant to take part in a tournament – which offered a 16kg pig to the winners – Ronaldinho did get involved in one match in the yard.
And his class unsurprisingly prevailed, scoring five and adding six assists as his side won 11-2, giving the opposition goalkeeper a torrid time.
And Twitter could not help but give credit to the Samba star.
One wrote: “Ronaldinho is in jail playing football and running the show there. Not even prison can take away his happiness.”
Another said: “Ah Ronaldinho you still got it.”
And a final user joked: “I wish I was in jail just to play with or against Ronaldinho.”
The former Barcelona star was reportedly feeling downbeat in his first few days at the jail, hated the food and was tested for coronavirus.
But prison ward Blas Vera insists his mood has improved. He told Reuters: “In broad terms he is doing very well.
“I see he is in good spirits, just like you see him on television, always smiling.
“Since yesterday he looks very well, he talks to his other inmates, he goes out to the patio.”
Ronaldinho was branded as “stupid” by his lawyer after being banged up.
His legal rep, Adolfo Marin, insisted that Barcelona’s iconic former No10 had no idea that he was doing anything wrong.
He told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo: “The courts have not taken into account the fact that Ronaldinho didn’t know he was committing a crime, because he didn’t understand he had been given false documents. He is stupid.”
And it is even rumoured that Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro will get involved to try and free his “friend” Ronaldinho and return him to his home country.
Police were called to the 2002 World Cup winner’s luxury hotel last Wednesday after a tip-off he had entered the country hours earlier to attend a charity launch and present his new book with a Paraguayan passport which stated he was a naturalised citizen.
Prosecutors said the passport was requested by a woman before its contents were doctored to include Ronaldinho’s photo and full name – Ronaldo de Assis Moreira. His brother had a similar passport.
The U-turn by Paraguayan authorities following the initial admission they were not seeking to prosecute him has led to him spending time locked up – although he is clearly enjoying a little bit of freedom.
The Brazil legend posed for a photo after the game as he gets used to life behind bars
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner was arrested at a luxury hotel alongside his brother for entering Paraguay using a fake passportCredit: AP:Associated Press
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
