Mauro Icardi has played for some of the biggest clubs in European football.
The Argentine striker has represented the likes of Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Galatasaray during a career which has seen him score goals across Italy, France and Turkey.
He enjoyed a particularly successful spell in Istanbul, helping Galatasaray win three successive Turkish league titles and becoming a hugely popular figure with supporters.
However, the 33-year-old left the Turkish giants when his contract expired earlier this summer and is currently a free agent as he considers the next move of his career.
But while speculation continues over where Icardi will play his football next, it’s an incident away from the pitch that has put his name back in the headlines.
And remarkably, it all started because of a video posted on social media by his partner.
La Nación report that authorities in the province of Buenos Aires have preventatively disqualified Mauro Icardi from driving after discovering that his Argentine driving licence had expired.
The investigation came after Icardi’s partner, Argentine actress Eugenia “China” Suárez, uploaded a video to social media while the pair were travelling through a gated residential complex.
In the footage, Suárez can be seen removing her seat belt before climbing towards the window and putting a significant part of her body outside the moving vehicle.
Icardi was behind the wheel at the time and continued driving.
The video attracted the attention of the Ministry of Transport for the Province of Buenos Aires, who subsequently investigated the situation.
According to the authorities, it was during those checks that they discovered Icardi’s driving licence had expired.
La Nación report that officials said his licence had lost its validity in May 2019.
The Ministry also criticised Icardi for continuing to drive while his passenger wasn’t wearing a seat belt and had a significant part of her body outside the vehicle.
They argued that, as the driver, Icardi had a responsibility to ensure the safety of those travelling in the car as well as other road users.
The Subsecretariat of Road Policy and Safety subsequently imposed a preventative disqualification under Provincial Law 13,927.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Icardi has permanently lost his right to drive in Argentina.
Because the former PSG striker is registered as living in the province of Buenos Aires, authorities say he will have to apply for a new licence through the jurisdiction corresponding to his address.
Before a new licence can be issued, however, Icardi will be required to undergo an assessment to determine whether he meets the necessary conditions to drive.
But Icardi has strongly disputed the authorities’ version of events.
The Argentine responded publicly after the punishment was announced and claimed that he possesses a valid Italian driving licence which doesn’t expire until 2029.
According to La Nación, Mauro Icardi questioned how the authorities had been able to declare his Italian licence invalid and accused the Ministry of using his name to generate publicity.
He also told the authorities that they would be better served focusing their attention on fixing roads.
That argument has subsequently created another interesting element to the story.
Argentina does recognise foreign driving licences in certain circumstances, but the authorities told La Nación that because Icardi is domiciled in Buenos Aires province, he was required to revalidate his licence there — something they say he had not done.
Icardi’s position is that his Italian licence remains valid until 2029.
The authorities’ position, however, is that possessing a valid licence issued overseas does not automatically remove the requirement for someone domiciled in Buenos Aires province to regularise their position locally.
It’s an unusual situation for a footballer who is currently trying to determine where the next chapter of his career will take place.
But he’s not the only one.
Mohamed Salah is banned for 6 months from driving for speeding in the UK, after being convicted in his absence.
Mauro Icardi remains without a club following his departure from Galatasaray and, at 33 years old, will be hoping to find another opportunity to continue a career which has seen him score goals at the highest level of European football.
For the time being, however, his immediate battle is taking place away from the pitch as he disputes the driving sanction imposed on him by authorities in his homeland.
ICARDI AL VOLANTE CON LICENCIA VENCIDA 🚘⚠️
Eugenia “la China” Suárez se quitó el cinturón y sacó gran parte de su cuerpo por la ventanilla mientras Mauro Icardi continuaba conduciendo.
Ante la difusión del video, constatamos que Icardi tenía su licencia de conducir vencida. https://t.co/lV5rFGbD1w
— Ministerio de Transporte (@TransportePBA) September 21, 2026
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