With just one month to go before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, predictions are beginning to dominate the football world. Former players, coaches and legends of the game are being asked to name their favourite for the prestigious award. This time, Brazilian icon Roberto Carlos has made his choice clear, backing Kylian Mbappé to lift the trophy.
Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit, the former Real Madrid left-back was asked directly who he believed deserved to win this year’s Ballon d’Or. Roberto Carlos did not hesitate for a second.
“Who should win it? Kylian Mbappé,” he replied.
His answer will hardly come as a surprise considering his strong connection with Real Madrid, where he remains one of the club’s most recognisable ambassadors. Nevertheless, his support adds another prestigious name to the growing list of football figures publicly backing the French superstar ahead of the ceremony.
Roberto Carlos was also questioned about another Real Madrid legend, Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, the Portuguese forward continues to defy expectations, and the Brazilian believes his remarkable physical condition could allow him to remain on the pitch for several more years.
“He can still play for another ten years. He is a physical phenomenon. He is happy to be with the Portuguese national team and he is going to keep playing for a long time,” Roberto Carlos said.
The former Brazil international then looked back on the famous Galácticos era at Real Madrid, recalling what it was like to share a dressing room with some of the greatest players of their generation.
Roberto Carlos reserved special praise for Zinedine Zidane, describing the Frenchman as a major source of inspiration.
“Zidane was a huge inspiration. He is incredibly intelligent,” he explained.
He also spoke warmly about Ronaldo Nazário, another legendary figure from that extraordinary Madrid team.
“Ronaldo is a different kind of person. He is a great businessman. So much so that he bought Valladolid,” Roberto Carlos said.
Despite being a global superstar himself at the time, the Brazilian admitted that being surrounded by so many legendary players sometimes made him feel “like a child” inside the Real Madrid dressing room.
However, the interview also touched on a much darker period of his life. Roberto Carlos revealed that he once suffered serious financial problems after people close to him allegedly mismanaged his money.
“I had problems with certain people who practically emptied my bank account. Everything I had achieved through football, I lost in one day — around 99 percent of my earnings,” he revealed.
🚨ROBERTO CARLOS 🇧🇷 A FAIT SON CHOIX POUR LE BALLON D’OR !👀🌕
— FOOT CONNEXION (@ConnexionF15706) September 24, 2026
🗣️ « Ballon d’Or ? KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. 🇫🇷 » pic.twitter.com/QhwhjsLbWl
Roberto Carlos explained that Entourage Sport played an important role in helping him rebuild his life.
“Thanks to Entourage Sport, I was able to rebuild my life, both financially and personally, and today I live peacefully. That is why I became a partner. Everything they did for me during the most difficult period of my life, we now want to do for today’s players.”
From his Ballon d’Or prediction to his memories of Real Madrid and his personal struggles, Roberto Carlos offered a revealing insight into both the glory and the difficulties that can accompany a life at the highest level of football.
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