Daniel Maldini's Weekend: From Penalty Hero to Police Investigation
Daniel Maldini’s weekend swung from glory to scandal in less than half a day.
On Saturday, the 24-year-old forward stepped up in Bergamo and buried a decisive penalty, sealing Cagliari’s 2-1 win over Atalanta and strengthening the Sardinian club’s fight for safety. By early Sunday morning, he was at the centre of a police investigation in Milan, his name no longer tied to a match-winning spot-kick but to a serious road accident and a failed alcohol test.
From winning penalty to police report
The crash took place at around 5:15 a.m. on Sunday in Milan. Maldini was driving a Porsche Carrera when it collided with another vehicle. Six people suffered minor injuries in the incident, among them Maldini himself. All were taken for medical checks, and the Cagliari player was later discharged from hospital the same day.
The real damage came with the numbers that followed.
Local police sources, speaking to Reuters, said the first breath test at the scene recorded an alcohol level of 0.91 grams per litre. A second test showed 0.89 grams per litre. The legal limit in Italy is 0.5 grams per litre. Maldini was almost at double.
His driving licence was suspended on the spot after the positive result.
Alcohol over the limit, drugs test negative
Alongside the alcohol checks, Maldini also underwent a drugs test. On Monday, Cagliari issued a statement confirming that the drugs screening had come back completely negative. The club added that the forward would return to training as normal as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.
An Italian security source, again cited by Reuters, underlined that the official toxicology results from the police would not be ready for another three or four days, leaving a crucial part of the legal picture still pending.
A rising name under a heavy surname
The incident lands at a delicate moment in Maldini’s career. Once on the books at Milan and having had spells with Atalanta and Lazio, he has been trying to carve out his own path at Cagliari, away from the towering shadow of his father, Paolo Maldini — one of the greatest defenders the game has seen.
Daniel, already capped six times for Italy, is viewed as one of the more promising attacking talents of his generation. His penalty in Bergamo looked like another small step in a steady rise.
Instead, the conversation around him has abruptly shifted from tactics and potential to responsibility and consequences. How he responds to this off the pitch may now shape his future as much as anything he does with the ball at his feet.
