Ronaldinho's prison 'in coronavirus lockdown as only his lawyer can visit him'

Ronaldinho's Paraguay prison is in a coronavirus lockdown with the "sad" Brazil star banned from receiving visitors.

The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner is currently behind bars after allegedly entering the country with a fake passport.

He recently celebrated his 40th with a huge BBQ and received messages from fellow World Cup heroes Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.

Rivaldo has admitted he is "concerned and sad" for his former team-mate and called the situation a "dark chapter in his beautiful history".

Now the global pandemic has reached the ex-Barcelona star's jail, with a lockdown barring friends and family from visiting.

According to the Globo Esporte, Paraguayan officials have ordered that the prison on the outskirts of capital Asuncion tighten protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

Prisoners' lawyers are the only outsiders allowed in.

Jail staff have been ordered to wear protective gloves and masks while all prisoners must undergo a daily health check.

Ronaldinho and his 49-year-old sibling Roberto deny entering the South America country with doctored documents.

They claim that the passports were a gift.

A judge refused the brothers' request for house arrest and ordered them to remain in jail pending the police investigation, citing a flight risk.

They face spending six months behind bars.

The former Milan and Paris Saint-Germain has lived a surreal existence in prison.

He continues to play football alongside fellow prisoners and officers - and has even dabbled in carpentry.