Roberto Carlos facts for kids
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Roberto Carlos in 2023
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| Full name | Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 10 April 1973 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Garça, São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | 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 | (91) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Fenerbahçe | 65 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Corinthians | 35 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Anzhi Makhachkala | 25 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Delhi Dynamos | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 593 | (128) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Brazil U23 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–2006 | Brazil | 125 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Anzhi Makhachkala (coach) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Sivasspor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Akhisarspor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Delhi Dynamos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born April 10, 1973), known as Roberto Carlos, is a famous Brazilian footballer. He played as a left-back and is considered one of the best in history. In 1997, he was almost named the best player in the world by FIFA. He is most famous for his long time playing for Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team.
Roberto Carlos started his career in Brazil as a forward. But he spent most of his time playing as a left-back. He joined Real Madrid in 1996 from Inter Milan. He played for 11 successful seasons, appearing in 584 matches and scoring 71 goals. At Real Madrid, 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 first played for 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 both 1998 and 2002. He is well-known for an amazing free kick against France in 1997. With 125 games played, he is one of Brazil's most capped players.
After retiring from playing, Roberto Carlos became a manager. He coached teams like Sivasspor and Akhisarspor in Turkey. In 2015, he briefly returned to playing as a player-manager for Delhi Dynamos in India.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in Brazil
Roberto Carlos began his professional journey with União São João. This club is located in Araras, Brazil. Even at just 19 years old, he was called up to play for the Brazilian national team in 1992.
In 1993, Roberto Carlos joined Palmeiras. He played there for two seasons. During this time, he helped the team win two Brazilian league titles in a row.
Moving to Europe
After Palmeiras, Roberto Carlos moved to Inter Milan in Italy in 1995. He played one season for the team. He scored a great goal from 30 yards in his first game. However, his time at Inter was not very successful for the team.
Roberto Carlos later said that his coach at Inter, Roy Hodgson, wanted him to play as a winger. But Roberto Carlos preferred playing as a left-back. Because of this, he decided to leave the club.
Becoming a Real Madrid Legend
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Roberto Carlos joined Real Madrid in 1996. The manager, Fabio Capello, was very keen to sign him. Roberto Carlos quickly became the team's main left-back. He kept this position for 11 seasons.
He played 584 matches for Real Madrid and scored 71 goals. He became the foreign player with the most games played for Real Madrid in La Liga. Many people thought he was the best left-back in the world. He was also part of the famous "Galácticos" team. This team included other superstar players like Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
Roberto Carlos won four La Liga titles with Real Madrid. He also won the UEFA Champions League three times. In the 2002 Champions League final, he helped set up Zinedine Zidane's winning goal. This goal is considered one of the best in Champions League history. He was named the best defender in Europe in 2002 and 2003.
He was known for his powerful shots and amazing goals. In 1998, he scored an "impossible goal" from the sideline against Tenerife. In 2003, he scored a crucial free-kick goal that helped Real Madrid win their 29th La Liga title. His last goal for Real Madrid was a late winner in 2007. This goal helped Real Madrid win their 30th league title. He left Real Madrid at the end of the 2006–07 season.
Later Career Teams
After Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos joined Fenerbahçe in Turkey in 2007. He helped them win the Turkish Super Cup. He played for Fenerbahçe until December 2009.
In 2010, Roberto Carlos returned to Brazil to play for Corinthians. He joined his friend and former teammate Ronaldo there. He scored some memorable goals for Corinthians. He left the club in 2011 due to safety concerns.
Next, he signed with Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia in 2011. He was named captain of the team. He scored several goals from his new position as a defensive midfielder. He announced his retirement from playing in August 2012.
In 2015, Roberto Carlos briefly came out of retirement. He became a player-manager for Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League.
International Career with Brazil
Roberto Carlos played 125 games for the Brazilian national team. He scored 11 goals. He played in three World Cups and four Copa América tournaments.
Famous Free Kick and World Cup Wins
Roberto Carlos played his first game for Brazil in 1992. He is most famous for a bending 40-yard free kick against France in 1997. The ball curved so much that it surprised everyone, including the goalkeeper. Scientists later studied this kick to explain how it worked.
He played in the 1998 World Cup, where Brazil reached the final but lost to France. In the 2002 World Cup, he played a key role. He scored a free-kick goal against China. Brazil went on to win the final against Germany 2–0. After this win, he was included in the World Cup All-Star Team.
Retirement from International Play
Roberto Carlos's last international tournament was the 2006 World Cup. After Brazil lost to France in the quarter-finals, he announced he was retiring from the national team. He felt he was getting too much criticism.
He later 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. But he became famous as a left-back. He was known for running forward from his defense 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. His shots were measured at over 105 miles per hour! He was a specialist at set-pieces. He could hit the ball very hard and make it curve with the outside of his left foot.
Roberto Carlos was also a talented player with good dribbling skills. He was strong and had excellent physical qualities. His speed and energy allowed him to cover the entire left side of the field. He was also known for his long throw ins. Despite being short, he had very strong thighs, which helped him accelerate quickly and strike the ball powerfully.
Media Appearances
Roberto Carlos has appeared in many commercials. He was in ads for sportswear company Nike. In 1998, he was in a Nike commercial with other Brazilian stars before the World Cup. He also appeared in a "Secret Tournament" commercial for Nike in 2002.
He also starred in Pepsi commercials. In one 2002 World Cup ad, he played alongside stars like David Beckham.
Roberto Carlos is featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series. He was on the cover of FIFA Football 2003. He has also been a legend in other football video games like Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.
In 2016, he launched a software called Ginga Scout. This helps connect young players with coaches around the world. He has also been an ambassador for the FIFA World Cup bids.
In recent years, Roberto Carlos has co-hosted exhibition matches called "The Beautiful Game." These games feature both current and retired football players.
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, which won on penalties.
He also became a global ambassador for the Football for Friendship program. This program helps children from different countries connect through football.
In 2022, Roberto Carlos played for an English Sunday League pub team called Bull In The Barne United. They won a raffle to have him play for them. He even scored a goal in the friendly match!
In February 2024, he played in the Match4Hope charity game. He played for Team Chunkz alongside other famous players.
Managerial Career
Coaching Roles
Roberto Carlos had a short time as an interim manager at Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012.
He was then appointed manager of Turkish team Sivasspor in June 2013. He left the club in December 2014. From January to June 2015, he managed Akhisarspor.
In July 2015, he became the head coach of Odisha in the Indian Super League. He did not return to Odisha in 2016.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | 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 | 1 | – | 34 | 7 | |
| Real Madrid | 1996–97 | La Liga | 37 | 5 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 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 | 1 | – | 46 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 35 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | – | 45 | 6 | ||
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | – | 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 | 1 | – | 50 | 7 | ||
| 2009–10 | Süper Lig | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | – | 19 | 1 | ||
| Total | 65 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 10 | ||
| Corinthians | 2010 | Série A | 35 | 1 | – | 8 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 57 | 4 | |
| 2011 | Série A | 0 | 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 | 1 | – | – | 28 | 5 | |||
| Odisha | 2015 | Indian Super League | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 593 | 69 | 61 | 9 | 163 | 23 | 168 | 16 | 985 | 117 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| 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 |
Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| Sivasspor | 3 June 2013 | 21 December 2014 | 59 | 23 | 9 | 27 | 90 | 94 | −4 | 38.98 |
| Akhisar Belediyespor | 11 January 2015 | 1 June 2015 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 28 | −3 | 25.00 |
| Delhi Dynamos | 3 July 2015 | 20 December 2015 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 43.75 |
| Career totals | 95 | 35 | 20 | 40 | 134 | 145 | −11 | 36.84 | ||
Honours and Awards
Roberto Carlos won many trophies and awards during his career:
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 (second place)
- 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 (second place)
- 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 the 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
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
