MEAT AND GREET
Ronaldinho celebrates 40th birthday with huge prison BBQ as Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo send greetings
RONALDINHO celebrated his 40th with a huge BBQ in jail - after receiving birthday messages from fellow Brazil icons Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.
The Samba star was enjoying his landmark birthday in a Paraguayan prison after allegedly using a fake passport to enter the South American country.
He has been told he faces spending six months behind bars.
But he received some good news in the form of Instagram messages from his fellow 2002 World Cup winners.
Ronaldo, 43, posted a photo of himself with Ronaldinho and the caption: "Congratulations Xará (mate)! May you overcome this difficult stage of your life with the same joy as always! #Ronaldinho40 @ronaldinho."
Carlos, 46, posted a photo of them playing in a game together, doing keepy-ups and hugging.
He wrote in his message: "Best wishes friend @ronaldinho 40 years old #happybirthday my friend."
Ronaldinho's former Barcelona team-mate Samuel Eto'o also reached out in an Instagram video as the photo of the jail-bound star tucking into his food went viral online.
He wished him the best for future, while admitting he "can't imagine what you're going through".
Eto'o said: "Happy birthday my brother.
"Hello brother, I have no words, brother. I don't even know what to say, we are talking to see how we can encourage you.
"You are my brother, my friend. I can't imagine what you're going through. I can only ask you to have strength and to pray a lot.
"I hope that all this can be solved soon, because you were frankly a good person and a good friend. From here, the black loves you very much and you can count on me for everything you need.
"What I can do, I will do. And if I can't do it, I'll ask a friend for the favour."
Ronaldinho spent his 40th alone in jail, a stark contrast to the lavish bashes he held in the past.
For his 26th, he partied in a Barcelona nightclub until 6am.
His 32nd, which lasted five days and cost tens of thousands of pounds, took place at a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pele sent a greeting after last year’s bash saying: “Whenever I see Ronaldinho he always has a smile. Happy birthday my friend.”
Now, those messages have been replaced with accounts from friends who speak only of how “sad” he is.
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Nelson Cuevas, who used to play for Argentine giants River Plate and recently visited Ronaldinho in his cell, said: “He is sad. Hopefully, he can get out soon.
“He is just sad because of the situation. His lawyers are handling the rest. I hope he can get out of there soon.”
Things have got so bad even Lionel Messi, his former Nou Camp team-mate, had to deny that he was sending £3.25million to help pay for his legal fees.
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