Daniel Maldini's Weekend: From Match-Winner to Legal Trouble
Daniel Maldini’s weekend swung from glory to disgrace in less than half a day.
On Saturday, he was the match-winner in Bergamo, burying a decisive penalty to give Cagliari a precious 2-1 victory over Atalanta. By early Sunday morning, he was at the centre of a serious legal storm in Milan, accused of driving under the influence after a violent collision in his Porsche Carrera.
From spot-kick hero to police reports
The 24-year-old, son of Milan icon Paolo Maldini, had walked off the pitch in Bergamo as Cagliari’s hero, his cool finish from the spot sealing three crucial points. It was the sort of moment that feeds the narrative of a rising star carrying a famous surname with growing authority.
Hours later, that story took a brutal turn.
At around 5.15am on Sunday in Milan, Maldini’s Porsche collided with another vehicle in what local reports described as a horrific traffic accident. Six people suffered minor injuries, among them Maldini himself. All were taken for medical checks; the Cagliari forward was later discharged from hospital the same day.
Alcohol nearly twice the legal limit
Local police sources, speaking to Reuters, said officers administered two alcohol tests at the scene. The first recorded 0.91 grams of alcohol per litre of blood, the second 0.89. Italian law sets the limit at 0.5 grams per litre.
The numbers left little room for interpretation. His licence was suspended on the spot.
Maldini also underwent a drug test. On Monday, Cagliari confirmed that test came back completely negative and stated that the player would return to training as normal while the legal process unfolds and the team prepares for its upcoming fixtures.
An Italian security source cited by Reuters noted that the official police drug-test results will only be available in three or four days, underlining that the case remains open on the authorities’ desks even as Maldini steps back onto the training pitch.
A rising name under a heavy shadow
The incident lands at a delicate moment in Maldini’s career. Having passed through Milan, Atalanta and Lazio before finding continuity at Cagliari, he has been regarded as one of the more promising Italian attackers of his generation. He already has six caps for Italy, and every performance carries the added scrutiny that comes with being the son of Paolo Maldini, one of the greatest defenders the game has known.
Now that scrutiny sharpens.
The questions no longer concern only his development on the ball, his composure from the spot, or his ability to shoulder a historic surname. They turn to judgment, responsibility and how a young player with a growing profile handles life away from the pitch.
Cagliari will count on his goals in the weeks ahead. The courts and the public will be watching something else entirely.
