Ronaldinho released from Paraguay detention

Former football star Ronaldinho was released from house arrest Monday after spending over five months detained in Paraguay for entering the country with a false passport.

The Brazilian, whose full name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, and his brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira, were ordered to pay $200,000 (€170,000) between them. Paraguayan judge Gustavo Amarilla gave each of the siblings a suspended prison sentence of two years.

False passports

Ronaldinho traveled to Asuncion with his sibling on March 4 after being invited by a local foundation, supposedly to promote his autobiography, support a school for impoverished children and inaugurate a casino. The player's brother also acts as his business manager.

But both of them were  arrested two days later  for being in possession of fake Paraguayan passports after investigators raided their hotel.

They were held in a high-security jail for 32 days, during which time Ronaldinho celebrated his 40th birthday, before being released into house arrest in a luxury hotel in the Paraguayan capital after they met the $1.6 million bail.

Swift return

Ronaldinho and his brother will be able to return to Brazil immediately. 

The footballer hit global fame as he guided the Brazilian national team to World Cup glory in 2002, beating Germany in the final in Japan.

He moved to FC Barcelona from Paris St. Germain a year later and won the Champions League with the Catalans in 2006.

The Brazilian also represented AC Milan and a number of clubs in his homeland, such as Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense. Ronaldinho last played a competitive match in 2015 before officially announcing his retirement from football in January 2018.

jsi/dj (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)