The Brazilian was in town to inaugurate the first Sait Nagjee football tournament in 21 years but narrowly avoided a rusty traffic light after visiting a local school
Ok, he wasn't "near death" but Ronaldinho's trip to India nearly ended in disaster on Monday when a traffic light pole crashed down only feet from his car as he was greeted by hundreds in Kerala.
The Brazilian was in south west India to inaugurate the Sait Nagjee football tournament, which is being revived after a hiatus of 21 years and was on his way to visit a school when disaster nearly struck.
The hoards of screaming fans were silenced immediately when a rusted poll clattered onto the road as Ronaldinho approached. Thankfully police were on hand to clear the obstruction and the player was soon back on his way.
"As soon as his car came out from the school, an old rusted traffic light post fell before his vehicle," CPI-M legislator A. Pradeep Kumar told IANS.
"Seeing it, he smiled and the car sped away, negotiating the fallen post."
- Goal