Daniel Maldini Faces Legal Trouble After Late-Night Crash
On Saturday night, Daniel Maldini was the hero. By Sunday morning, he was at the centre of a police investigation.
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder, on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta, had just delivered one of the standout moments of his season, scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over his parent club. A statement performance, a statement result – and another reminder of why Cagliari see him as a key figure in their survival push.
Hours later, the story changed.
Late-night crash in Milan
In the early hours of Sunday in Milan, Maldini’s Porsche Carrera 4 collided with another vehicle. The crash left six people, including the player, with minor injuries. All were taken for precautionary checks, and Maldini was later released from a local hospital.
At the scene, Milan city police carried out standard procedures. Maldini was asked to take a breathalyser test. The results triggered immediate legal consequences.
Police confirmed to BBC Sport that his driving licence was confiscated on the spot after a positive test. Reports from the scene detailed just how far over the limit he was.
Italy’s legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5 grams per litre. Maldini’s first reading registered 0.91 g/l. A second test came back at 0.89 g/l – almost double the permitted level.
From match-winner to facing serious questions about his conduct in the space of one night.
Cagliari close ranks around their playmaker
While the police process began, Cagliari moved quickly to protect and support their player. Maldini has featured six times across all competitions this season and already has two goals. For a team fighting for every point, he is not a peripheral figure.
With speculation building around his condition and professionalism, the Sardinian club issued a firm statement. They confirmed Maldini had undergone toxicological screening “following recent media reports” and stressed that “all tests returned negative results”.
The message was clear: the club stands by him and wants the focus back on football.
Cagliari added that Maldini will rejoin the squad for training on Monday as usual, as preparations continue for their upcoming fixtures. No suspension, no immediate exclusion. For now, he remains part of the plan.
The weight of a surname
Any incident involving a Maldini is never just another story in Italian football.
Daniel carries one of the game’s most storied surnames, following his father Paolo and grandfather Cesare – both AC Milan icons and standard-bearers for professionalism and longevity at the highest level.
Daniel wrote his own piece of family history in 2024, when he became the third generation of Maldinis to represent Italy, making his international debut against Israel in the Nations League. Since then, he has collected six caps for the Azzurri, his latest coming in September 2025.
Now, as the legal process unfolds and Cagliari lean on his talent in a crucial stretch of the season, the question hangs in the air: how will he carry that name, and this episode, into the next chapter of his career?
