Former Barcelona player Ronaldinho is being held by police in Paraguay for reportedly using a fake passport to enter the country.
The Brazil legend, who was crowned FIFA World Player of the Year twice in 2004 and 2005, has been questioned with his brother, Roberto Assis on Wednesday.
Passports were found by officials in the hotel showing the names of Ronaldinho and his brother but with the nationality of Paraguay.
‘They are not being detained, they are still under judicial investigation and they have to testify,’ Paraguay’s interior minister Euclides Acevedo told ESPN Brasil.
‘Then it will be decided whether they will be detained or not.’
Acevedo also confirmed that Ronaldinho and his brother say they are innocent and claim that they were deceived by Wilmondes Sousa Lira, a businessman from Brazil.
Despite being unable to travel out of Brazil, Ronaldinho was unveiled as one of their new ambassadors for tourism last year.
Literally stranded in his homeland, the former AC Milan player said he was trying to make the most of his situation after accepting a role to promote the country’s tourism.
“Tourism is very important for generating jobs and regaining our image internationally,” Ronaldinho said at his unveiling as an ambassador.
The 39-year-old Brazilian, who retired from football in 2018, won the World Cup with the national team in 2002.
