ไทย
English
中國人
Real Madrid and Brazil icon Roberto Carlos has disclosed that he lost nearly his entirety of his football career earnings due to complications with his former agent and personal family matters.
Speaking at the Football Summit in Portugal, the 53-year-old revealed that virtually all of the wealth accumulated throughout his playing career—estimated at over $183 million (€160 million)—had been wiped away.
"I had issues with people who left me with nothing. Because of agents and family problems, I lost 99% of everything I had earned in football," he said.
"I had a very serious family problem," Carlos continued, before recounting the moment he grasped the full scale of what had occurred: "On Thursday, I went to sleep at midnight and on Friday, I was handed a stack of documents I had no knowledge of. That's when I understood I had lost everything I had built."
Carlos declined to identify the agent in question or elaborate on exactly where his finances had gone.
Carlos Issues Plea to the Next Generation
Carlos used the occasion to encourage younger players to avoid repeating his errors.
"I made mistakes, and because of that, I urge younger players not to follow the same path," he said. "I always thought about what I would do after my playing days were over. It's about building a legacy as a player and making the most of your image. When I decided to step away from football, I already had my sporting director's license and was collaborating with numerous brands."
One of the most celebrated fullbacks of his era, Carlos claimed the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, alongside three Champions League titles and four La Liga championships with Real Madrid across his 24-year playing career.
Since hanging up his boots in the 2010s, he has pursued a diverse post-playing career, partnering with various media brands before settling into a more established role as a Real Madrid ambassador.