Who is Robinho the Brazilian footballer cooling heels in jail?

• Arrest and a nine-year jail term have sparked questions about who is Robinho
• Robinho was arrested on Thursday in Santos
• He was convicted alongside five other men for r@ping an Italian woman

Arrest and a nine-year jail term have sparked questions about who is Robinho, a retired Brazilian international footballer. Robinho was arrested on Thursday in Santos, Brazil following a conviction in Italy where he was handed nearly a decade in prison over gang r@ping.

He was convicted alongside five other men for r@ping an Italian woman after a night of partying in a Milan club in 2013. Robinho’s detention coincides with the order for the “immediate” commencement of his jail sentence issued by Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF).

The Supreme Court declined his request on Thursday to be released from imprisonment until all court challenges against his conviction have been exhausted.

According to the STF ruling, Robinho’s defence team had asked Brazilian authorities to let him serve his jail sentence in Italy rather than Brazil and to be allowed to be at large while all appeal processes were pending.

All along, Robinho has refuted the accusations. According to CNN Brasil, Robinho had a custody hearing on Friday after his arrest on Thursday and was then sent to a detention facility to start his jail time.

WHO IS ROBINHO?

Robinho. Photo/Sky Sports

Throughout his career, Brazilian professional football player Robson de Souza, better known by his stage name Robinho, wowed spectators with his deft footwork and remarkable pace. Robinho was born on January 25, 1984, in São Vicente, Brazil. His skill was apparent from an early age.  Playing futsal, a fast-paced indoor soccer variation, which is noted for fostering tight control and rapid thinking, helped him polish his technical skills.

In 2002, he started his professional career at Santos, the club from his hometown Sao Paulo. He credits local Brazilian leagues for helping millions of people across the world to know who is Robinho. He was a major factor in Santos winning their first Campeonato Brasileiro championship since the days of legendary footballer Pelé took the field at the tender age of 18.  Pelé even referred to Robinho as his football heir after the teenager’s outstanding performance. His performance in the ensuing seasons reinforced his status as a rising star in Brazilian football, and it prepared him for an international football career.

DID ROBINHO PLAY FOR REAL MADRID?

La Liga football club Real Madrid is a missing puzzle in telling who is Robinho. During his remarkable career, he wore the recognizable Real Madrid white jersey from 2005 until 2008. His move to the Spanish football powerhouse was a major turning point in his career because he joined a team with a stellar roster and a long history in football. During his time at Real Madrid, Robinho demonstrated his talent on the field, captivating spectators with his amazing dribbles, superb vision, and game-winning goals.

He played with some of the greatest footballers of the time among them David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Raul Gonzalez.

WHY DID ROBINHO LEAVE REAL MADRID?

Robinho’s time at Real Madrid wasn’t exactly the fabled success many had anticipated, despite his obvious potential. Even though he showed off his abilities and flashes of football ingenuity, he didn’t replicate the domination he had in Brazil. La Liga was and still is a very competitive league, and he had to fight hard to get playing time against more experienced players like Ronaldo and Raúl.

It was also difficult to adjust to a new league, playstyle, and culture, and in finding out who is Robinho, the truth is that he never really settled in Spain. He decided to leave Real Madrid after two seasons in pursuit of more consistent playing time. He started a new chapter in his career in 2008 when he signed with Manchester City in the English Premier League.

Robinho. Photo/Eurosport

HOW MANY GOALS DID ROBINHO SCORE FOR REAL MADRID?

During his tenure with Real Madrid, Robinho experienced many magical moments. His reputation as a fan favourite was cemented by his ability to score goals at pivotal times and win over the Real Madrid supporters. But in the end, he did not live up to the hype.  He made 106 appearances for Los Blancos and scored 25 goals in all competitions. Although this figure is by no means poor, it fell short of what many had expected from the highly-regarded young player.

WHEN DID ROBINHO RETIRE?

Retirement is the final piece completing the puzzle of who is Robinho. The 40-year-old retired in October 2020 from football. He was then playing for Santos in the Brazilian league and his childhood club too. His retirement follows the suspension of his contract by Santos over his reputation and legal woes due to the Italian court sentencing. Robinho eventually chose to retire only to end up in jail four years later.