Roberto Carlos lost almost all of his £137 million earnings from his playing career.
Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos has shared some honest advice for young players, asking them not to repeat the mistakes he made. He revealed that he lost 99% of the money he earned during his amazing playing career.
Now 53, Roberto Carlos is known as one of the best left-backs ever and is believed to have earned around €160 million (£137.6m) while playing for top clubs like Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Fenerbahce. But despite his success on the field, he admitted he had problems with people who drained his bank account.
Reports say he also faced trouble with agents and family issues. Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit in Lisbon, he opened up about tough times off the pitch and shared the moment he realized everything was gone.
“I had problems with people who emptied my bank account. I lost 99% of everything I earned from football,” he said. “I also had a serious family problem. One day, I got documents I didn’t know about, and that’s when I realized I had lost almost everything.”
He added, “I made mistakes, so I want young players to learn from me. I always tried to plan for my future after football.” Carlos also said that building your reputation and image is important. By the time he retired, he already had his coaching license and was working with several brands.
Over 24 years, Carlos won three Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. Even though he never won the Ballon d’Or, he came close after winning the World Cup in 2002. His former teammate Ronaldo Nazario believes Roberto Carlos and some other football stars also deserved to win the award.
“Players like Del Piero, Totti, Maldini, Raul Gonzalez… and I think Roberto Carlos too, deserved the Ballon d’Or,” Ronaldo said. He also praised Andres Iniesta, saying, “Iniesta has had an amazing career and is the best Spanish player ever. I thank him for his talent and generosity.”