Daniel Maldini’s Weekend: From Hero to Scandal

Daniel Maldini’s weekend swung from euphoria to scandal in the space of a few hours – a brutal reminder of how quickly football’s spotlight can turn.

On Saturday, the attacking midfielder on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta was the hero, striking the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over his parent club. By the early hours of Sunday, he was at the centre of a police investigation in Milan.

Late-night crash in Milan

The incident took place in the small hours on Sunday when Maldini’s Porsche Carrera 4 collided with another vehicle in Milan. Six people suffered minor injuries, among them the 24-year-old himself.

Maldini was taken to a local hospital for precautionary checks and later discharged. Nobody was seriously hurt, but the consequences for the player extended far beyond the medical report.

At the scene, Milan city police required Maldini to undergo a breathalyser test to assess his fitness to drive. Speaking to BBC Sport, the city police confirmed that the legal fallout began immediately after those tests were completed.

“Mr Maldini was administered a breathalyser test at the scene,” officers said, adding that his driving licence “was confiscated following a positive result.”

Reports from the crash site detailed just how far over the limit he was. Italy’s legal blood alcohol limit stands at 0.5 grams per litre. Maldini’s first reading registered 0.91 g/l, with a second test showing 0.89 g/l – almost double the permitted level.

Club closes ranks around key player

As the numbers emerged and speculation gathered pace, Cagliari moved quickly to protect a player who has become increasingly important on the pitch. Maldini has made six appearances in all competitions this season, scoring twice, and his winner against Atalanta had just given the Sardinian side a timely lift.

The club issued a statement aimed at calming the storm around his condition and behaviour, stressing their own medical checks.

Cagliari confirmed that Maldini had “undergone toxicological screening following recent media reports” and that “all tests returned negative results”. The Rossoblu underlined that the playmaker is expected to rejoin the squad for training on Monday as usual, as preparations continue for their next fixtures.

The message was clear: deal with the off-field issue, keep him focused on football.

A surname under the microscope

Every step Maldini takes is magnified by the weight of his name. He is the third generation of one of football’s most famous dynasties, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Cesare and his father Paolo, both icons of the game and immortalised at AC Milan.

Daniel carved out his own slice of history in 2024 when he became the third Maldini to represent Italy, making his international debut against Israel in the Nations League. Since then he has collected six caps for the Azzurri, his most recent coming in September 2025.

Now, as he tries to build a career distinct from the legends before him, he must navigate a very modern test of character – one that will be judged not only by the courts and the federation, but by a football world that has watched the Maldini name for generations and expects it to stand tall.