He enjoyed an extraordinary football career, but the years that followed were far more difficult. Roberto Carlos has revealed that he lost 99% of everything he earned during his playing days, mainly because of problems involving his former agent and personal issues.
At 53, Roberto Carlos could easily have expected to be financially secure after an incredible career with Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. However, the legendary left-back has now shared a very different story, explaining that he lost almost all the fortune he had accumulated during his years as a professional footballer.
Speaking to Globo during the Football Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, Roberto Carlos opened up about the financial and personal difficulties he faced after his playing career. According to the former Brazil international, as much as 99% of his career earnings disappeared.
Eleven children, seven women and three Champions League titles: Roberto Carlos has certainly experienced an eventful life, both on and off the pitch. He claims that problems involving his former agent, combined with difficult family circumstances, cost him a huge part of the wealth he had built over the years.
His career earnings have been estimated at more than €160 million, making the scale of his reported losses even more remarkable.
“I lost 99% of what I had”
“He emptied my bank account. Because of agents and family problems, I lost 99% of everything I earned through football,” Roberto Carlos explained.
The Brazilian also recalled the moment he realized the seriousness of the situation.
“I had a major problem with him. I also had a very serious family problem. I went to bed on Thursday at midnight, and on Friday I received a huge number of documents that I knew absolutely nothing about. That was when I understood that I had lost everything I had earned during my career. It was a real nightmare,” he said.
Despite the financial setback, Roberto Carlos believes one decision helped him rebuild his life: preparing for retirement before actually leaving football.
The former Real Madrid defender now advises young players not to focus exclusively on their sporting careers. Instead, he believes footballers should begin building their future while they are still active and earning significant money.
🚨 « J’AI PERDU 99% DE CE QUE J'AI GAGNÉ DANS LE FOOT » 😰
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) September 27, 2026
Roberto Carlos 🇧🇷 révèle avoir perdu des millions d’euros :
« À cause d’agents et de problèmes familiaux, J’AI PERDU 99% DE MES REVENUS DE FOOTBALLEUR.
J’ai fait des erreurs, et c’est pourquoi je demande aux jeunes… pic.twitter.com/5mp7aTjtSg
Roberto Carlos had already started developing commercial partnerships and working with several brands before retiring.
“It is about building a story as a player and making use of your image. When I decided to stop playing football, I already had my sporting director licence and I was working with many brands,” he explained.
Those activities eventually allowed him to continue generating income despite the disappearance of most of his previous wealth.
Today, Roberto Carlos remains closely involved in football. He continues to work with brands, develops projects around his personal image and maintains strong ties with Real Madrid, where he serves as an ambassador.
His story now serves as a warning to young footballers: earning millions during a career does not necessarily guarantee financial security once the final whistle has blown.
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