Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
NBCSports Header Logo

Paraguayan police detain Ronaldinho on false passport allegations

Ronaldinho Promotes Protein Supplement

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 28: Ronaldinho attends the promotional event for “Kongokin’ protein supplement at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on March 28, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage)

WireImage

ASUNCION, Paraguay -- Former soccer star Ronaldinho has been detained by Paraguayan police for allegedly entering the country with a falsified passport.

[ MORE: Kevin De Bruyne doubtful for Sunday’s Manchester derby ]
Police raided the Brazil star’s hotel room on Wednesday night and prosecutors said they found Paraguayan passports that had been falsified with data of Ronaldinho and his brother.

Prosecutor Federico Delfino said the brothers left Brazil using passports of that country, but entered Paraguay on Wednesday morning using Paraguayan documents.

“They are original passports, but with apocryphal data,” Delfino said.

He added Ronaldinho told investigators the people who brought him gave him the documents. Ronaldinho was in Paraguay to help a local foundation campaign for children’s health.

[ MORE: Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira out indefinitely with fractured ankle ]
The player was testifying before the country’s organized crime unit on Thursday.

Delfino said prosecutors have until late Thursday to decide if they will bring charges.

Ronaldinho won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, the Champions League with Barcelona, the Copa Libertadores with Atletico Mineiro, the Ballon d’Or and two FIFA player of the year awards before retiring in 2015.