The Brazil national team, renowned for their iconic yellow shirts and dynamic style of play, continues to captivate fans worldwide
This Saturday, a crowd of 90,000 is expected at Wembley Stadium to witness England take on the current Selecao stars.
However, despite Brazil’s enduring popularity, there’s a troubling trend emerging with an increasing number of past and present players making negative headlines.
Recent incidents involving Brazilian footballers have been particularly concerning. Former Brazil international Robinho has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his involvement in a gang rape case dating back to 2013.
Similarly, Dani Alves faces potential legal consequences, with a four-and-a-half-year sentence looming for his alleged involvement in a nightclub assault.
These cases represent just the latest instances of Brazilian footballers being embroiled in scandal, casting a shadow over the nation’s footballing reputation.
DailyMail brings us closer to the latest updates on the following South America footballers after being fiubd guilty.
1. ROBINHO
Starting with the embarrassing former Manchester City and Real Madrid forward, now aged 40, who received a verdict from judges on Wednesday mandating a nine-year prison term in Brazil for his involvement in a group sexual assault in 2013.
Robinho, who was playing for AC Milan at the time, was among six men convicted in 2017 of gang raping a 22-year-old Albanian woman in a nightclub.
In January 2022, the Supreme Court in Rome rejected his final appeal against the conviction.
Although Italian authorities sought his extradition from Brazil to serve the sentence, it was ruled in Brasilia that he will be incarcerated in Brazil instead.
Despite playing for the national team 100 times, Robinho maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the decision.
2. DANI ALVES
On the same day as Robinho’s verdict, former Brazil defender Dani Alves was released on a €1 million (£850,000) bail after appealing his four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for rape.
Alves, aged 40 and one of the most decorated footballers in history, was convicted last month for raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub bathroom in the early hours of December 31, 2022.
He had been detained in Brians 2 Prison in Barcelona since January 2023 but is now allowed to leave on bail pending the final sentencing.
Alves received a four-and-a-half-year prison term last month following a three-day trial. Prosecutors had sought a nine-year sentence, while Alves consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that the sexual encounter was consensual.
3. ANTONY
Antony, the Manchester United winger who scored in Sunday’s thrilling FA Cup victory over Liverpool, is notably absent from the latest Brazil squad.
He was removed from the squad initially selected for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru in September due to allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin.
The 24-year-old hasn’t been selected since then, as police investigations into the allegations continue in both Manchester and Sao Paulo.
Antony vehemently denies the allegations but voluntarily participated in an interview with Greater Manchester Police last September.
Cavallin alleges that Antony assaulted her on four occasions, including an incident at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester on January 15 last year, during which she claims he damaged one of her breast implants.
She further alleges that Antony threw a glass at her in June, resulting in a severe injury to her finger.
4. HULK
The former Brazil striker made waves in the media when it was revealed that he had married the niece of his former wife.
The 37-year-old, currently playing for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil, was previously married to Iran Angelo for 12 years, with whom he shares two sons, Ian and Tiago, and a daughter, Alice.
Hulk, whose full name is Givanlido Vieira de Sousa, surprised many when he announced his marriage to Camila Angelo, his ex-wife’s niece, just five months after their divorce in 2019.
A spokesperson for the player clarified, “Hulk reached out to Camila’s parents and brother to share the truth. He made the information public himself because he had nothing to hide.”
The couple welcomed their daughter, Zaya, in April 2022, and in December, they announced that they are expecting a baby boy.
5. ADRIANO
Forward Adriano, who represented Brazil 48 times between 2000 and 2010, faced charges of drug trafficking while still active in his playing career.
In 2010, prosecutors accused Adriano of purchasing a motorcycle and gifting it to a known drug dealer in the Rio de Janeiro favela where he grew up.
Allegations suggested that the motorcycle was subsequently used for drug trafficking by a prominent criminal organization. Adriano faced the prospect of a significant prison sentence if found guilty.
However, in 2014, Judge Maria Tereza Donatti dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence to substantiate the accusations against him.
6. RONALDINHO
Following his retirement from professional football in 2015, the player who famously knocked England out of the 2002 World Cup found himself at the center of a fake passport scandal.
In 2020, Ronaldinho, known for his stellar career with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and AC Milan, was apprehended alongside his brother Roberto de Assis upon their arrival in Paraguay for a promotional tour.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the duo had falsified Paraguayan passports and identification documents. Although prosecutors believed Ronaldinho was unaware of the fraudulent nature of the documents.
While incarcerated, Ronaldinho participated in a jail futsal tournament, leading his team to a convincing 11-2 victory in the final. Impressively, the former World Cup winner scored five goals and assisted in the remaining six.
After spending 32 days in the maximum-security Asuncion prison, Ronaldinho celebrated his 40th birthday before being relocated to a luxurious hotel, vacant due to Covid quarantines, under house arrest at a cost of $380 per night.
Despite the restrictions, reports from South America suggested that Ronaldinho frequently entertained guests and hosted karaoke parties in the evenings.
As part of a plea bargain, the brotvhers were fined $200,000 and eventually returned to Brazil.
Earlier, Sports Buddy also revealed Dani Alves have been jailed after being found guilty of rape
