Brazilian · Garça, Brazil · Born 10 April 1973Brazilian left-back who won four La Liga titles and the 1998 Champions League with Real Madrid, his thunderous free-kicks — most famously against France in 1997 — defining an era of attacking full-back play.
Roberto Carlos's free kick against France in 1997 — curling outward then bending back sharply past the goalkeeper from 35 metres — was subsequently studied by physicists and aerodynamicists as a case study in ball trajectory, and remains the most replicated and analysed set-piece in football history. 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 1998, 2000, 2002
- La Liga 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007
- Copa América 1997, 1999
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| União São João | 1991–1993 | — | 21 | 3 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 1992–1993 | loan | 3 | 0 |
| Palmeiras | 1993–1995 | — | 44 | 3 |
| Inter Milan | 1995–1996 | — | 30 | 5 |
| Real Madrid | 1996–2007 | £6m | 370 | 47 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2007–2009 | — | 65 | 6 |
| Corinthians | 2010–2011 | — | 35 | 1 |
| Anzhi Makhachkala | 2011–2012 | — | 25 | 4 |
| Delhi Dynamos | 2015–2016 | — | 3 | 0 |
 Brazil | — | — | 125 | 11 |
Brazilian Athletes