Daniel Maldini: From Match-Winner to Police Investigation
On Saturday night, Daniel Maldini was the hero. By Sunday morning, he was under 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 big result, and another reminder of why Cagliari have pushed so hard to make him central to their survival plans.
Hours later, the narrative flipped.
From match-winner to police file
In the early hours of Sunday in Milan, Maldini’s Porsche Carrera 4 collided with another vehicle. The crash left six people with minor injuries, among them the player himself. He was taken to a local hospital for precautionary checks and discharged shortly after.
Standard procedure followed at the scene. Milan city police confirmed to BBC Sport that Maldini was subjected to a breathalyser test and that the consequences were immediate. Officers stated that “Mr Maldini was administered a breathalyser test at the scene” and confirmed his driving licence was confiscated after a positive result.
Reports from the scene detailed just how far over the legal limit he was. Italy’s maximum blood alcohol level for drivers is 0.5 grams per litre. Maldini’s first reading registered 0.91 g/l, the second 0.89 g/l – close to double the permitted limit.
The figures ensured that what had begun as a routine road-traffic incident quickly became a serious legal matter for a player whose profile has grown sharply in recent years.
Cagliari close ranks around their playmaker
While the police process moved forward, Cagliari moved just as quickly to protect and stabilise their on-field asset.
Maldini has featured six times across all competitions for the Sardinian club this season, scoring two goals and emerging as a key creative outlet. With the club eager to ride the momentum of their win over Atalanta, they stepped in to address the swirl of speculation around his condition and conduct.
In a statement, the Rossoblu confirmed that Maldini had “undergone toxicological screening following recent media reports” and stressed that “all tests returned negative results”. The club also made it clear that, from their perspective, his footballing duties remain unchanged: the playmaker is scheduled to rejoin the squad for training on Monday as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.
The message was unmistakable: Cagliari intend to keep him on the pitch, even as events off it attract unwanted attention.
The weight of a name
Every step Daniel Maldini takes in his career is judged against one of the most famous surnames in football.
He is the third generation of Maldinis to operate at the elite level. His grandfather Cesare and his father Paolo are both AC Milan greats and enduring symbols of Italian football. Daniel added a new chapter to that lineage in 2024 when he made his Italy debut against Israel in the Nations League, becoming the third Maldini to represent the Azzurri.
He has since collected six caps for the national team, his latest coming in September 2025, each appearance reinforcing the idea that he is more than just a famous name.
Now, though, that name sits in a very different kind of spotlight. The immediate future holds legal questions, club decisions, and a test of judgement away from the ball. How he responds may shape not only Cagliari’s season, but the next chapter of a family legacy built over generations.
