XtraTime Web Desk: Former World Cup winning Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho was released from prison in Paraguay on Tuesday. Ronaldinho was arrested for holding fake passports and was in prison for last 32 days. The Brazilian football legend is now placed in house arrest due to ongoing coronavirus outbreak which has claimed for than 82000 lives worldwide.
The 40-year-old reportedly paid a £1.3million bond after he, along with his brother, was charged of entering the South American country with fake passports last month. The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner and former Barcelona star were being kept at Asuncion prison after a court in Paraguay refused his bail and rejected appeals for house arrest.
The 2002 World Cup winner had also said that he went to Asunción for business reasons. The former footballer and his brother said the documents were offered as a gift by a Brazilian businessman, Wilmondes Sousa Liria, who has been jailed. Ronaldinho’s passport was seized in November 2018 because of a lawsuit over alleged environmental crimes.
Ronaldinho was keeping himself busy inside the prison by taking part in a variety of sports. A video of Ronaldinho participating in a 5-a-side tournament with other inmates went viral on social media. He scored 5 goals while setting up six more as his side won 11-2.
The Brazilian footballer recently celebrated his 40th birthday on March 21 inside the prison with his older brother, Roberto Assis, who is also spending time with him for the same crime.