RONALDINHO was one of football’s modern day geniuses.
The Brazilian forward, now 40, won two Fifa World Player of the Year Awards, as well as a Ballon d’Or at the peak of his powers.
Ronaldinho’s life has gone through a sudden decline since his Barcelona heydayCredit: Reuters
Brazil legend Ronaldinho had his hotel raided in Paraguay on suspicion of using fake passportsCredit: EPA
His flawless technique, tricks, feints and no-look passes graced the Nou Camp in the five years he starred at Barcelona.
But, after officially retiring from the game in 2018 following years of battling with his fitness, the icon’s life has spiralled out of of control.
From bigamy claims to being millions of pounds in debt to having his property seized, Ronaldinho has suffered a sad demise.
And now, he’s being probed for entering Paraguay with a fake passport.
BIGAMY
Over the years, charming Ronaldinho has had no problems attracting beautiful women.
In 2018, he was forced to deny claims that he was to marry two women at the same time.
Brazilian newspaper O Dia sensationally revealed Ronaldinho was due to wed his two girlfriends Beatriz Souza and Priscilla Coelho.
It was said that he had gifted the beauties engagement rings, and the ceremony would take place at his £5million mansion in Rio de Janiero.
Bigamy is illegal in Brazil, and can carry a six-year jail sentence. But Ronaldinho said the report simply wasn’t true.
“The whole world is calling me. I’m not going to get married,” he told reporters.
“It’s the biggest lie,” he added to Brazilian station Globo.
Ronaldinho was forced to deny he was set to marry two women, Beatriz Souza (left) and Priscilla Coelho (centre), at the same timeCredit: Instagram
MESSY SPLIT
Soon after the expose, Ronaldinho split with Priscilla after six years together, and she launched a lawsuit for a share of his £70MILLION fortune.
Her mum, Maria Aldenice dos Santos then spoke out about her daughter’s three-way relationship.
“He had his bedroom for him and Priscilla, and another bedroom for him and Beatriz,” she said.
“They would never be together in the same bed. One day would be Priscilla’s and the next day Beatriz’s.
“He gave both of them the same amount of spending money every month and he would give them exactly the same gifts. He once gave both a Rolex watch.”
Maria said that Priscilla had had enough by the end of 2018, and walked away from Ronaldinho after a huge row.
Maria said: “She said Ronaldo had started going out partying on his own, spending nights away and leaving her alone at home.
“Then she found messages between Ronaldo and other women on his mobile. Beatriz wasn’t at home, she’d gone to spend Christmas in London.
“She confronted him but he didn’t want to talk. He went to his car and she followed him, telling him he couldn’t just go without talking.
Priscilla Coelho split with Ronaldinho after a six-year romance
It was alleged by Priscilla Coelho’s mum that her daughter found text messages from other women on Ronaldinho’s phoneCredit: Instagram
Beatriz Souza was said to be in a three-way relationship with Ronaldo and girlfriend PriscillaCredit: Facebook
“She spent three days locked in her bedroom, without eating, trying to speak to him and waiting for him to come back.
“Then she decided this couldn’t go on, packed her suitcases and drove home.”
CARS AND ART SEIZED
In 2018, with his financial woes at an all-time low, prosecutors raided Ronaldinho’s home to secure assets, including his car collection and an expensive painting.
A month before the raid, he had his passport confiscated and it was discovered that he only had £5 in his account, and was unable to pay off a debt accrued by his charity.
Officers secured two BMWs and a Mercedes-Benz from the property as they attempted to recover funds to meet the fine.
A piece of art from the painter Andre Berardo from a house owned by Ronaldinho’s family in Porto Alegre was also taken.
According to the Brazilian Public Ministry, the ex-player’s brother, Assis Moreira, and the Ronaldinho Gaucho Institute, which helps children and teenagers, were found guilty of environmental damage by the Court of Justice of Rio Grande do Sul in 2013.
They were said to have cut down the native forest and carried out drainage and land movement without a licence.
The debt was reported at £1.75m!
Ronaldinho had cars, two BMWs and a Mercedes-Benz, seized in a raidCredit: Golder’s News & Sport Ltd. (Golders)
Valuable artwork was also seized because Ronaldinho failed to pay a £2m debt for environmental damageCredit: Golder’s News & Sport Ltd. (Golders)
57 PROPERTIES THAT CAN’T BE SOLD
Last summer, Ronaldinho had 57 properties seized and his Brazilian and Spanish passports taken away from him.
His previous debt for environmental damage remained unpaid and had risen to £2m.
On top of that, Ronaldinho was reportedly being pursued by creditors seeking to recover £1.69m in other debts, including council taxes, according to the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.
A judge in Porto Alegre told Reuters the case fell under judicial secrecy rules and would not confirm or deny any details about the newspaper report.
Ronaldinho’s lawyer denied the player’s assets were under restriction but told Folha de S.Paulo he could not comment on the details of the case because of the judicial secrecy ruling.
57 properties belonging to Ronaldinho were seized for unpaid fines and taxesCredit: Golder’s News & Sport Ltd. (Golders)
Ronaldinho was said to only have £5 in his bank accountCredit: Getty Images – Getty
NEW SHAME
Ronaldinho is currently in prison in Paraguay for allegedly using a fake passport to enter the country.
Police searched the hotel he was staying in with his brother in Asuncion and uncovered the ‘false documents’.
He has since been jailed in Asuncion, where it has not been easy to keep a low profile – as he signs autographs and bests his fellow prisoners at 5-a-side football.
And the Brazil legend could even be in for at least six months.
Police searched Ronaldinho’s hotel and uncovered ‘false documents’ – here, a passport shows he is a Paraguayan citizenCredit: Refer to Caption
Authorities say Ronaldinho has been cooperating with them and denies any wrongdoing of passport fraudCredit: AP:Associated Press
What is next for the fallen icon Ronaldinho?Credit: AFP
Ronaldinho had travelled to Paraguay to promote a book and a campaign for unprivileged children before the bust.
It’s the latest shame in the chapter of Ronaldinho’s life, that has had more twists and turns than one of his famous mazy dribbles.
What next for the fallen icon?
Ronaldinho rolls back the years to produce a no-look assist to help seal a 2-0 victory for Santa Fe
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
