Brazilian · Garça, Brazil · Born 10 April 1973Brazilian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest left-backs of all time, known for his powerful free-kicks and attacking style at Real Madrid.
Roberto Carlos da Silva was born in Garça, Brazil in 1973. Real Madrid paid £6 million for him in 1996. His eleven Madrid seasons produced four La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and two Copa Américas. His free kick against France in 1997 — a ball that bent in a physical arc that physicists subsequently studied and aerodynamicists used as a case study — is the single most replicated and discussed set-piece in football history. The ball curved outward, then bent sharply back past the goalkeeper from a 35-metre distance in a trajectory that violated most observers' intuitive understanding of how a ball could move. His attacking output from left-back — 116 career goals — combined with his defensive work and his physical attributes of pace and stamina made him the definitive modern attacking full-back. He represented Brazil 125 times. He was voted FIFA's best left-back of the last 50 years.
Most attacking left-back in football history with devastating free-kicks
How They Played
Marauding left-back with incredible pace, stamina and crossing ability; famous for powerful long-range shots and free-kicks
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized the left-back position by combining defensive duties with explosive attacking runs and becoming one of the greatest free-kick takers ever
Career Honours
- World Cup (2002)
- Champions League 4x (1998,2000,2002,2014 honorary)
- La Liga 4x
- Copa América 2x
- World Cup 2002
- Champions League 1998
- Champions League 2000
- Champions League 2002
- La Liga 1997
- La Liga 2001
- La Liga 2003
- La Liga 2007
- Copa América 1997
- Copa América 1999
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| União São João | 1991–1993 | — | 38 | #3 |
| Real Madrid | 1996–2007 | 527 | 70 | #3 |
| Palmeiras | 1993–1995 | 48 | 6 | — |
| Inter Milan | 1995–1996 | 22 | 1 | — |
| Corinthians | 2010–2012 | 35 | 2 | — |
| Anzhi Makhachkala | 2011–2012 | 21 | 1 | — |
| Delhi Dynamos | 2014–2015 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Fenerbahçe | 2007–2009 | 64 | 10 | — |
 Brazil | — | 125 | 11 | — |
Brazilian Athletes