Daniel Maldini, the Cagliari midfielder and Italy international, has had his driving licence suspended after being involved in a car accident in Milan in the early hours of Sunday, just hours after scoring the winning goal in his side's Serie A victory.
The 24-year-old, son of AC Milan and Italy great Paolo Maldini and grandson of Cesare Maldini, was behind the wheel of his Porsche Carrera 4 when it collided with another vehicle. Six people in total suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to Milan city police, who confirmed the incident to BBC Sport.
Police said Maldini underwent a breathalyser test at the scene, which returned a positive result, leading to the immediate confiscation of his driving licence. Reports indicate that an initial roadside test measured his blood alcohol level at 0.91 grams per litre, with a follow-up reading recording 0.89 g/l. Both figures exceed Italy's legal driving limit of 0.5 grams per litre.
Following the collision, Maldini was taken to hospital as a precaution, where he underwent further checks before being discharged.
The accident came just hours after Maldini had been on the scoresheet in Cagliari's 2-1 win over Atalanta, a result that was particularly poignant given his family ties — his father Paolo spent his entire playing career at AC Milan, one of Atalanta's fiercest rivals in the modern Serie A era, though the connection to Sunday's opponent added a layer of significance to Maldini's contribution on the pitch.
Maldini's career has long been shaped by the weight of his family name. He became the third consecutive generation of Maldinis to represent the Italian national team when he made his debut in a Nations League match against Israel in 2024, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather, who each earned caps for the Azzurri. Since that debut, Maldini has gone on to make six appearances for Italy, the most recent of which came in September 2025.
At club level, Maldini has established himself as a regular contributor for Cagliari, and his goal against Atalanta underlined his growing importance to the Sardinian side this season. However, the off-field incident has now cast a shadow over what had otherwise been a positive weekend for the player.
Italian authorities have not indicated whether further legal or disciplinary action beyond the licence suspension will follow, and neither Cagliari nor Italian football's governing bodies have issued a public statement on the matter as of the time of writing. It remains to be seen whether the incident will have any bearing on Maldini's standing with his club or the national team setup moving forward.
The episode serves as a reminder of the scrutiny faced by players carrying prominent football surnames, with Maldini's situation likely to draw continued media attention in Italy given his family's storied history with both the national team and AC Milan, one of the country's most decorated clubs.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.