Video: Ronaldo admits shame

Ronaldo, the AC Milan forward, has described his altercation with transvestites in a Rio de Janeiro motel as the "biggest mistake of his life" and admits he is sorry and ashamed by his actions.

The Brazil World Cup winner was questioned by police last week after the incident, which happened when the striker left a nightclub in the Barra de Tijuca district early on Monday morning with three prostitutes. He did not realise they were transvestites until he reached the motel.

In an interview on Globo TV, a Brazilian televison station, the striker denied that he had sex with them and used drugs, but said that the incident would haunt him for the rest of his career. "It was an isolated and stupid act," he said. "I'm sorry and ashamed."

Ronaldo said he asked the prostitutes to leave when he discovered they were transvestites. The three-time world player of the year is in Rio recovering from a career-threatening knee injury. He admitted he had been drinking while watching Flamengo beat Botafogo earlier in the day, but denied he was drunk.

"I made the stupidest mistake ever of my personal life," he said. "Anyone can make a mistake, and I made a big mistake."

Police are investigating claims by the 31-year-old that he was victim of extortion, after one of the prostitutes allegedly asked for 50,000 reais (about £15,000) to hide the story from the media.

Ronaldo's contract with AC Milan ends in June but he hasn't started negotiating a new deal and suggested that he could return to Rio. "I'm sure the doors of Flamengo will be open for me," he said.

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football