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Roberto Carlos, full name Roberto Carlos da Silva (born April 10, 1973, Garça, São Paulo), is a Brazilian footballer, specializing as a wingback, currently playing for Real Madrid, though there are rumours that he will not renew his contract and will leave Real for Olympiacos or Chelsea FC. Roberto Carlos is regarded as one of the best full backs of all time. He finished second to countryman Ronaldo in the 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year award poll. He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Roberto Carlos is known for his trademark powerful free kicks, explosive speed and aggressive attacking plays, often leading swift counter attacks from the back of the field. He has played for various clubs such as Palmeiras, Inter Milan, before settling with Real Madrid in 1996, making him the team's longest serving foreign superstar players. He has amassed 120 caps, scoring 11 goals for the Brazilian national team, and helping his country win the FIFA World Cup 2002 in Korea/Japan and finishing runners-up in France 1998. He is also famous for scoring an incredible 37-yard free kick against France on June 1997 at the Tournoi de France, when the ball seemed to be heading wide off the leftmost man in the French wall, Didier Deschamps, before taking a devastating left swerve, leaving goalkeeper Fabien Barthez stunned.

On June 24, 2005, Carlos was robbed by two gunmen while doing a live radio interview in the back seat of his car. However, the thieves did not harm him, merely taking his watch and the interviewer's cellular phone.

On August 2, 2005, Carlos received dual Spanish and Brazilian citizenship. This proved important for Real Madrid, as it meant that he now counted as a European Union player, opening up one of the club's allowed three slots for non-EU players and enabling Real to sign fellow Brazilian star Robinho.

After the elimination by France in the quarterfinal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he announced his retirement from international football. He was severely criticised by the press and the general public for his performance in the Cup, especially for failing to mark French striker Thierry Henry in the free kick crossed by Zinedine Zidane that was scored by Henry and ultimately led to Brazil's demise.

Clubs

Career Stats

Palmeiras 102/16

Inter Milan 37/5

Real Madrid 523/69

Brazil 118/9

Titles

External links

1973 births | Living people | Afro-Brazilians | Spanish-Brazilians | Natives of Sao Paulo state | Brazilian footballers | Football (soccer) fullbacks | Left-footed footballers | Serie A players | Internazionale players | La Liga footballers | Real Madrid footballers | FIFA 100 | FIFA World Cup goalscorers | FIFA World Cup 2002 players | FIFA World Cup 2006 players | FIFA World Cup winners | Olympic competitors for Brazil | Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics

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