Daniel Maldini's Weekend: From Match Winner to Legal Trouble

Daniel Maldini’s weekend swung from hero to headline scandal in less than half a day.

On the pitch, the 24-year-old forward was the calmest man in Bergamo, burying a decisive penalty to seal Cagliari’s 2-1 win over Atalanta. Off it, just hours later, he was at the centre of a serious legal storm in Milan after a traffic accident and an alcohol test that showed he was almost twice over the legal limit.

From match winner to police case

The incident took place at around 5:15 a.m. on Sunday in Milan. Maldini was driving a Porsche Carrera when it collided with another vehicle, in what local reports described as a horrific crash.

Six people sustained minor injuries, among them Maldini himself. All were taken for checks, with the Cagliari player transported to hospital before being discharged later the same day.

At the scene, police carried out two alcohol tests. According to local police sources quoted by Reuters, 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. Maldini was well over it.

The response from the authorities was immediate. His driving licence was suspended on the spot after the positive result.

Alcohol confirmed, drugs test clear

Alongside the alcohol checks, Maldini also underwent a drugs test. On Monday, Cagliari issued a statement confirming that the club had been informed the test was completely negative. The Sardinian side also made clear that Maldini would rejoin training as normal as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.

An Italian security source cited by Reuters underlined that the official results of the police drug analysis would only be available in three or four days, a standard timeframe for such procedures.

For Maldini, the numbers are stark. Less than 12 hours separated the euphoria of converting a pressure penalty in Serie A and the shock of sitting in a hospital after a crash, with police records showing an alcohol level close to double what the law allows.

A rising name under a heavy surname

The case lands on a player whose surname already draws constant attention. Daniel Maldini came through at Milan, the club where his father Paolo became one of the greatest defenders in football history. He has also had spells at Atalanta and Lazio before settling at Cagliari, where his recent form has pushed him into the conversation as one of the promising attacking talents in Italian football.

He already has six caps for Italy, a sign of how highly he is rated within the national setup. That status now collides with a serious off-field incident that raises uncomfortable questions about responsibility and conduct away from the stadium.

On Saturday, Maldini was the match winner in Bergamo. By Sunday morning, he was facing the kind of scrutiny no young player wants, his licence suspended and his judgement under the spotlight.

How he responds from here will shape far more than his next performance.