Ronaldinho Gaúcho Faces Fresh Legal Battle Over Cryptocurrency Investment Scheme

Another Court Case Emerges in 18K Ronaldinho Dispute

The legendary footballer finds himself entangled in yet another legal proceeding related to a cryptocurrency-based financial scheme bearing his name. The 4th Civil Court of Barra da Tijuca has formally summoned Ronaldinho Gaúcho alongside six other parties in connection with fraud allegations concerning an investment operation. The lawsuit was filed by Dayana Paiva, a self-employed professional who claims to have lost her savings through the 18K Ronaldinho Comércio e Participação LTDA venture, which subsequently froze her account. The defendants include not only Ronaldinho but also his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira and three additional business associates.

The Investment Gone Wrong

Paiva alleges she was persuaded to commit US$ 4,200 to the scheme under the premise of receiving substantially higher returns—supposedly US$ 17,000 converted into Bitcoin, translating to approximately R$ 70,000. Her legal claim now seeks full recovery of her R$ 70,000 investment plus an additional R$ 20,000 in damages compensation. The court process indicates that if the defendants fail to submit their response within 15 days, the plaintiff’s allegations will be deemed accepted as fact.

A Pattern of Similar Cases

This latest lawsuit is not the first confrontation Ronaldinho Gaúcho has faced regarding this particular venture. A São Paulo court previously dismissed an attempt to hold the athlete personally liable for participating in the scheme, citing insufficient evidence of his involvement or control within the company. The judicial decision noted that while he had signed a limited image-licensing agreement with the enterprise—specifically for a watch promotion campaign—that contract was subsequently dissolved due to material breaches that damaged his reputation.

Understanding the 18K Operation

The 18K Ronaldinho entity became notorious after being scrutinized by the Financial Pyramid CPI investigation in 2023. The operation attracted multiple investors by advertising returns of 400% annually, with daily earnings marketed at 2%. The purported income sources included cryptocurrency arbitrage transactions and stock market investments. To enhance credibility, the scheme incorporated branding from 18K Watches, attempting to create an appearance of legitimacy. Multiple investors suffered financial losses from this venture. During his CPI testimony, Ronaldinho consistently denied holding any partnership stake in 18K and asserted he never authorized the commercial use of his personal name for the business itself—only the limited licensing deal for the specific watch product campaign.

Legal Implications for Investors

This emerging case underscores the persistent risks associated with investment vehicles leveraging celebrity endorsements in the criptomoedas and financial technology sector. The distinction between legitimate image-licensing agreements and unauthorized commercial association remains legally significant, though victims often struggle to distinguish between the two.