Paraguayan police question Ronaldinho over fake passport

March 5 – Former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho is being investigated by police in Paraguay for allegedly using a false passport to enter the country. 

Ronaldinho won the FIFA World Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005, but the Brazilian gradually fell from grace as his career suffered from his off-the-field exploits. On Wednesday, Ronaldinho and his brother, Roberto Assis, were questioned  by police at their hotel, the Resort Yacht & Golf Club Paraguayo. Officials discovered passports with the names of Ronaldinho and his brother but which  the Paraguayan nationality.

“They are not being detained, they are still under judicial investigation and they have to testify,” said Paraguay’s interior minister Euclides Acevedo in response to a report on ESPN Brasil.

Brazilians don’t need a passport to enter Paraguay with other forms of identification being sufficient. Last year, the player reportedly had his Brazilian and Spanish passports confiscated over unpaid taxes.

Ronaldinho and his brother have denied any wrongdoing regarding the Paraguyan passports and say that they have been tricked by Brazilian businessman Wilmondes Sousa Lira. Ronaldinho had travelled to Paraguay to engage in charity work and promote his new book.

Depite having his Brazilian passport confiscated, , Ronaldinho was still named as one of Brazil’s new ambassadors for tourism in September.

In 2018, the Brazilian retired from the game. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 in Japan and South Korea. At FC Barcelona, he triumphed twice in La Liga and he helped the club to win the Champions League in 2006.

Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1711705735labto1711705735ofdlr1711705735owedi1711705735sni@t1711705735catno1711705735c1711705735