Roberto Carlos facts for kids
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Roberto Carlos in 2023
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| Date of birth | 10 April 1973 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Garça, São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Left-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1991 | União São João | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | União São João | 21 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | → Atlético Mineiro (loan) | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Palmeiras | 44 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Inter Milan | 30 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2007 | Real Madrid | 372 | (48) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Fenerbahçe | 65 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Corinthians | 35 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Anzhi Makhachkala | 25 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Delhi Dynamos | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 593 | (69) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Brazil U23 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–2006 | Brazil | 125 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Anzhi Makhachkala (coach) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Sivasspor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Akhisarspor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Delhi Dynamos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born 10 April 1973), known as Roberto Carlos, is a famous Brazilian former professional footballer. Many people say he was the "most attacking left-back" ever. He is also considered one of the greatest full-backs in football history. In 1997, he was almost named the best player in the world.
Roberto Carlos is best known for his long time playing for Real Madrid. He was also a key player for the Brazilian national team. He started his career as a forward but mostly played as a left-back. At Real Madrid, he played for 11 successful seasons. He appeared in 584 matches and scored 71 goals. With Real, he won four La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League three times. He is one of the few players to have played over 1,100 professional games.
He joined the Brazil national team in 1992. He played in three World Cups. He helped Brazil reach the final in 1998 and win the 2002 tournament. He was chosen for the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1998 and 2002. He is famous for a amazing free kick against France in 1997. With 125 games played, he is one of Brazil's most capped players. After retiring from playing in 2012, he also worked as a manager.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in Brazil
Roberto Carlos began his career at União São João. This was a club in São Paulo, Brazil. Even at 19, he was called to play for the Brazilian national team in 1992. He then joined Atlético Mineiro for a short time.
In 1993, Roberto Carlos moved to Palmeiras. He played there for two seasons. During this time, he helped them win two Brazilian league titles. After Palmeiras, he moved to Europe.
Playing in Italy
In 1995, Roberto Carlos joined Inter Milan in Italy. He scored a great goal from far away in his first game. However, his season at Inter was not very successful. The team finished seventh in the league. Roberto Carlos later said that his coach at Inter wanted him to play as a winger. But he preferred playing as a left-back. Because of this, he decided to leave the club.
Years of Glory at Real Madrid
Roberto Carlos joined Real Madrid in 1996. He quickly became the team's main left-back. He stayed with Madrid for 11 seasons. He played 527 matches and scored 69 goals for the club. He became Real Madrid's foreign player with the most league appearances.
He was part of Real Madrid's famous "Galácticos" team. This team included stars like Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Ronaldo, and David Beckham. He won four La Liga titles with Real Madrid. He also won the UEFA Champions League three times. In the 2002 Champions League final, he assisted Zidane's winning goal. This goal is considered one of the best in Champions League history.
Roberto Carlos was known for his powerful shots and amazing goals. In 1998, he scored an "impossible goal" against Tenerife. He hit a bending volley from the sideline. In his last season, he scored a crucial goal against Recreativo. This helped Real Madrid win their 30th league title. He played his final match for Real Madrid in a 3–1 win over Mallorca.
Moving to Turkey and Brazil
After Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos joined Fenerbahçe in Turkey in 2007. He helped them win the Turkish Super Cup right away. He played for Fenerbahçe until December 2009.
In 2010, Roberto Carlos returned to Brazil. He joined Corinthians, playing alongside his friend Ronaldo. He scored some important goals for Corinthians. However, he left the club in 2011 due to safety concerns.
Time in Russia and India
In 2011, Roberto Carlos signed with Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia. He became the team captain. He played as a defensive midfielder there. He scored several goals for Anzhi. He announced his retirement from playing in 2012.
He briefly came out of retirement in 2015. He became a player-manager for Delhi Dynamos in India.
International Career with Brazil
Roberto Carlos played 125 games for the Brazilian national team. He scored 10 goals. He played in three FIFA World Cups. He also played in four Copa América tournaments. He represented Brazil at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 1996 Olympic Games.
He is famous for a bending 40-yard free kick against France in 1997. The ball curved so much that it looked like it would go way off target. But then it curved back into the goal, surprising everyone. Scientists later studied this amazing shot.
At the 1998 World Cup, Brazil reached the final but lost to France. In the 2002 World Cup, Roberto Carlos played a key role. He scored a free kick goal against China. Brazil won the final against Germany 2–0. He was named to the World Cup All-Star Team again.
After the 2006 World Cup, Roberto Carlos announced his retirement from the national team. He faced criticism after Brazil lost to France in the quarter-finals. He hoped to play in the 2010 World Cup. However, he was not chosen for the final squad.
How Roberto Carlos Played
Roberto Carlos started as a forward in Brazil. But he spent most of his career as a defender. He was usually a left-sided full-back. He was known for his powerful runs forward from his defensive position. Many experts consider him one of the best left-backs ever.
He was nicknamed El Hombre Bala ("The Bullet Man"). This was because of his incredibly powerful shots and free kicks. These shots were measured at over 105 miles per hour! He was a specialist at set-pieces. He could strike the ball with great force, especially from long range. He also made the ball curve with the outside of his left foot.
Roberto Carlos was a talented and consistent player. He had good dribbling skills and could pass and cross the ball well. He was very strong and had excellent physical qualities. His speed, hard work, and energy allowed him to cover the left side of the field. He helped both in defense and attack. He was also known for his strong thighs and long throw ins.
Media Appearances
Roberto Carlos appeared in commercials for sports companies like Nike and Pepsi. In 1998, he was in a Nike commercial with other Brazilian stars. He also appeared in a famous Nike "Secret Tournament" commercial in 2002. This commercial featured many top footballers.
He is also in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series. He was on the cover of FIFA Football 2003. In 2015, he was added as a legend in the game Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.
In 2016, Roberto Carlos launched a software called Ginga Scout. This helps connect players with coaches. In 2018, he became an ambassador for Morocco's bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has also co-hosted exhibition football matches with Ronaldinho.
Charity Work
Roberto Carlos has taken part in charity football matches.
- In 2019, he played in Soccer Aid in London. He played for the World XI team.
- He became a global ambassador for the Football for Friendship program. This is an international children's social program.
- In 2022, he played a friendly match for an English Sunday League pub team called Bull In The Barne United. They won a raffle to have him play for them.
- In 2024, he played in the Match4Hope charity game.
Managerial Career
Roberto Carlos had a short time as a manager.
- He was an interim manager for Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012.
- He managed Sivasspor in Turkey from 2013 to 2014.
- From January to June 2015, he managed Akhisarspor, also in Turkey.
- In 2015, he became the head coach of Odisha in the Indian Super League. He left the club at the end of that season.
Personal Life
Roberto Carlos was born in Garça, Brazil, on 10 April 1973. In 2005, he became a Spanish citizen. This was helpful for Real Madrid. It meant he was counted as a European Union player. This allowed Real Madrid to sign another non-EU player. Roberto Carlos has several children and became a grandfather in 2017.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Club | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| União São João | 1991 | Série B | – | – | – | 24 | 1 | 24 | 1 | |||
| 1992 | Série B | 21 | 3 | – | – | 21 | 1 | 42 | 4 | |||
| Total | 21 | 3 | – | – | 45 | 2 | 66 | 5 | ||||
| Palmeiras | 1993 | Série A | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | – | 40 | 5 | 65 | 6 | |
| 1994 | Série A | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 60 | 3 | |
| 1995 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 23 | 3 | 37 | 7 | |
| Total | 44 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 90 | 8 | 162 | 16 | ||
| Inter Milan | 1995–96 | Serie A | 30 | 5!!2 | 1!!2 | –!!34 | 7 | |||||
| Real Madrid | 1996–97 | La Liga | 37 | 5!!5 | –!!colspan="2"|–!!42 | 5 | ||||||
| 1997–98 | La Liga | 35 | 4!!1 | 1!!9 | 2!!2 | 0!!47 | 7 | |||||
| 1998–99 | La Liga | 35 | 5!!4 | 0!!8 | 0!!2 | 0!!49 | 5 | |||||
| 1999–2000 | La Liga | 35 | 4!!3 | 0!!17 | 4!!3 | 0!!58 | 8 | |||||
| 2000–01 | La Liga | 36 | 5!!0 | 0!!14 | 4!!2 | 1!!52 | 10 | |||||
| 2001–02 | La Liga | 31 | 3!!6 | 1!!13 | 2!!2 | 0!!52 | 5 | |||||
| 2002–03 | La Liga | 37 | 5!!1 | 0!!15 | 1!!2 | 1!!55 | 7 | |||||
| 2003–04 | La Liga | 32 | 5!!7 | 1!!8 | 2!!2 | 0!!49 | 9 | |||||
| 2004–05 | La Liga | 34 | 3!!2 | 0!!10 | –!!46 | 4 | ||||||
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 35 | 5!!3 | 1!!7 | –!!45 | 6 | ||||||
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 23 | 3!!1 | 0!!8 | –!!32 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 370 | 47 | 33 | 4 | 109 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 527 | 69 | ||
| Fenerbahçe | 2007–08 | Süper Lig | 22 | 2!!3 | 0!!9 | 0!!1 | 0!!35 | 2 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Süper Lig | 32 | 4!!8 | 2!!10 | –!!50 | 7 | ||||||
| 2009–10 | Süper Lig | 11 | 0!!0 | 0!!8 | –!!19 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 65 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 10 | ||
| Corinthians | 2010 | Série A | 35 | –!!8 | 0!!14 | 3!!57 | 4 | |||||
| 2011 | Série A | 0 | –!!1 | 0!!3 | 1!!4 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 61 | 5 | ||
| Anzhi | 2011–12 | Russian Premier League | 25 | 4!!3 | –!!colspan="2"|–!!28 | 5 | ||||||
| Odisha | 2015 | Indian Super League | 3 | –!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!3 | 0 | |||||||
| Career total | 593 | 69 | 61 | 9 | 163 | 23 | 168 | 16 | 985 | 117 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 1992 | 7 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 13 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 18 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2000 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 125 | 10 | |
- Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Carlos goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 June 1995 | Goodison Park, Liverpool, England |  Japan |
3–0 | 3–0 | Umbro Cup |
| 2 | 3 June 1997 | Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France |  France |
1–0 | 1–1 | 1997 Tournoi de France |
| 3 | 26 June 1999 | Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil |  Latvia |
2–0 | 3–0 | International friendly |
| 4 | 9 October 1999 | Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Netherlands |
1–0 | 2–2 | International friendly |
| 5 | 9 August 2001 | Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil |  Panama |
5–0 | 5–0 | International friendly |
| 6 | 8 June 2002 | Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, South Korea |  China |
1–0 | 4–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup |
| 7 | 12 October 2003 | Walkers Stadium, Leicester, England |  Jamaica |
1–0 | 1–0 | International friendly |
| 8 | 9 February 2005 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, Hong Kong |  Hong Kong |
2–0 | 7–1 | 2005 Carlsberg Cup |
| 9 | 8 June 2005 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Argentina |
1–3 | 1–3 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 10 | 12 October 2005 | Mangueirão, Belém, Brazil |  Venezuela |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
Honours and Awards
Palmeiras
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1993, 1994
- Campeonato Paulista: 1993, 1994
- Torneio Rio–São Paulo: 1993
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07
- Supercopa de España: 1997, 2001, 2003
- UEFA Champions League: 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02
- UEFA Super Cup: 2002
- Intercontinental Cup: 1998, 2002
Fenerbahçe
- Turkish Super Cup: 2007
Brazil U23
- CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1996
- Olympic Bronze Medal: 1996
Brazil
- FIFA World Cup: 2002; runner-up: 1998
- Copa América: 1997, 1999; runner-up: 1995
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997
- Umbro Cup: 1995
- Lunar New Year Cup: 2005
Individual Awards
- Bola de Prata: 1993, 1994, 2010
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 1997 (silver medal)
- ESM Team of the Year (7 times): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
- Onze Mondial: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998, 2002
- Trofeo EFE: 1997–98
- UEFA Club Defender of the Year: 2002, 2003
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2003
- Ballon d'Or: 2002 (runner-up)
- Golden Foot: 2008
- Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade: 2009
- ESPN World Team of the Decade: 2009
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2010
- FIFA 100 (list of greatest living footballers)
- Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
- Ballon d'Or Dream Team (silver team): 2020
- 11Leyendas Jornal AS: 2021
- IFFHS All-time Men's B Dream Team: 2021
- IFFHS South America Men's Team of All Time: 2021
Images for kids
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Roberto Carlos at his Corinthians signing ceremony
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Roberto Carlos in August 2011
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Roberto Carlos's 'banana shot' from 40 yards out against France in 1997 Tournoi de France
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Roberto Carlos in 2011
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Roberto Carlos speaking with Real Madrid TV in 2021
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Roberto Carlos coaching Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012
See also
In Spanish: Roberto Carlos (futbolista) para niños
- List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of men's footballers with the most official appearances
- List of athletes who came out of retirement
