Daniel Maldini: From Hero to Controversy After Car Accident

Daniel Maldini’s weekend traced the brutal extremes of a modern footballer’s life. On Saturday night, he was the hero – the on-loan Atalanta attacking midfielder striking the decisive goal in Cagliari’s 2-1 win over his parent club. Hours later, he was at the centre of a police investigation in Milan.

The 24-year-old was involved in a car accident in the early hours of Sunday. Driving a Porsche Carrera 4 in Milan, Maldini collided with another vehicle, with the impact leaving six people – including the player – with minor injuries. All were taken for precautionary checks, and Maldini was released from hospital shortly afterwards.

The real damage came at the roadside.

Milan city police confirmed to BBC Sport that officers immediately subjected Maldini to a breathalyser test to assess his fitness to drive. “Mr Maldini was administered a breathalyser test at the scene,” they said, adding that his driving licence “was confiscated following a positive result”.

Reports from the scene detailed just how far over the limit he was. Italy’s legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5 grams per litre. Maldini’s first reading registered 0.91 g/l. A second test recorded 0.89 g/l – close to double the permitted level.

The legal process will now run its course, but Cagliari moved quickly to close ranks around a player who has become increasingly important on the pitch. Maldini has made six appearances in all competitions this season, scoring twice, and his late winner against Atalanta had just injected fresh optimism into the Sardinian club’s campaign.

With questions swirling over his condition and conduct, Cagliari released a statement aimed at calming the noise and reasserting control of the narrative. The Rossoblu confirmed Maldini had “undergone toxicological screening following recent media reports” and stressed that “all tests returned negative results”. The club added that the playmaker will rejoin the squad for training on Monday as normal as preparations continue for their upcoming fixtures.

Behind the headlines sits a surname that carries rare weight in world football. Maldini is not just any player; he is the third generation of one of the sport’s most storied dynasties. His grandfather Cesare and father Paolo are both AC Milan icons, each etched into the club’s mythology and Italian football history.

Daniel carved his own place in that lineage when he made his Italy debut against Israel in the Nations League in 2024, becoming the third Maldini to represent the Azzurri. He has since collected six caps, the latest coming in September 2025.

Now, as Cagliari lean on his talent and Italy watch the next chapter of a famous name, the question is no longer whether Daniel Maldini can decide games. It is how he responds when the spotlight turns harsh and unforgiving, far away from the pitch.