We've been sifting through some of soccer's biggest sex scandals but there are some that are so extreme, we don't know whether to laugh or cringe. This one is worthy of being written in an episode of Footballers' Wives.
In 2008, Ronaldo made headlines when he was questioned by police after an argument with transvestites in a Rio de Janeiro motel. The soccer player had dropped his girlfriend at her house and decided to pick up three female prostitutes in a nightclub in Brazil. Only, when he arrived at the motel, he discovered that they were all men.
Reports say he offered each of them £300 (R2300) to keep quiet about the incident, but only two of them accepted the offer. The third transvestite, who was clearly very opportunistic, demanded £15,000 (R115,000) to keep quiet and an angry altercation ensued.
Andréia Albertini, the third cross-dresser who is also known as André Luís Ribeiro Albertino, ran to the press saying Ronaldo had threatened to hit him after discovering he was a transvestite.
Before returning to nurse a serious knee injury from a soccer match, Ronaldo spoke out about the incident. “There were no sexual relations because the moment I discovered they were transvestites I ended the whole thing," Ronaldo said. "I am completely heterosexual, there is no doubt about that," Ronaldo said. He also claimed to be a victim of extortion.
"He admitted to everything, he wanted to have fun," Nogueira said. "But he committed no crime at all, it was immoral at best," said Carlos Augusto Nogueira, chief of the police precinct investigating the incident. "Ronaldo said he is not good in the head and that he is going through psychological problems because of his recent surgery. But he committed no crime at all, it was immoral at best."
Of course, Ronaldo's actions had repercussions. The soccer star went into hiding, and he lost a lucrative endorsement deal with mobile company TIM worth $4.8 million (R36 million). His fiancée at the time, Maria Beatriz Antony also ended their engagement – but, unlike his sponsoring companies, she did take him back a few months later. The couple now have two daughters.
Did you forget about this scandal or is this one that should be included in our Soccer Scandal Hall of Shame?