Inside Ronaldinho's wild life: 'Nightclub clause', playing in prison, grandfather at 45

Few football legends have burnt the candle at both ends better than Ronaldinho. Forever cemented in football folklore for his 2002 World Cup winning exploits with Brazil, and his mesmerising spell at Barcelona that yielded a Ballon d’Or and Champions League win, the 44-year-old can be rest assured ‘the streets will never forget’.

But life has been every bit of colourful post-playing days as it was in his peak years, and not always for the right reasons.

And now comes the latest chapter in his already bizarre story – the star who also graced teams like PSG and AC Milan is set to become a grandfather next year.

His 19-year-old son, Burnley winger Joao Mendes, is currently in a high-profile relationship with Internet influencer Giovanna Buscacio, who is six years older. Buscacio took to Instagram this month to share news of the pregnancy, posting a picture of her bump to her 136,000 followers.

The model added the caption ’16 weeks and counting’, suggesting the arrival is due around May. Ronaldinho turns 45 in March, although his current party-boy lifestyle is probably not synonymous with a traditional grandfather-to-be.

In 2011, when the forward was still only 31 after three years at the San Siro, he insisted on an astonishing clause in his contract to return home and play for Flamengo. The icon wanted a ‘nightclub clause’, which permitted him to go late-night partying two nights a week, irrespective of the fixture schedule.

Ronaldinho reportedly was cut throat with his demands, making it clear he would not sign if the club did not play ball. He stayed just a year at Flamengo before moving to Atletico Mineiro, where he joined an elite group of players to have won both the Champions League and Copa Libertadores.

Come 2020, he was in the headlines again for showcasing his famous skills, albeit in very different surroundings. In March that year, Ronaldinho and his brother were detained in a prison in Paraguay after allegedly using a fake passport to enter the country.

And while he was locked up, the 97-cap international suddenly found himself the most sought-after man inside after a behind-bars football match was arranged, involving guards and inmates. Despite the prize of a 16kg suckling pig going to the winner – Ronaldinho was initially said to be reluctant until being persuaded.

At 39, the all-time great seemingly still had it. The match took place on a small-sided futsal court instead, with Ronaldinho scoring five goals and assisting six more in what proved an eventual 11-2 win for his team.

Chances are he’ll soon be able to show his new grandson a trick or two as well. Only this month, he proved that much of his magic remained, scoring a sensational free kick for a Barcelona icons team against their Real Madrid counterparts. In a match dubbed the Legends of El Clasico, it was the Catalan giants who eventually prevailed on penalties.