Roberto Carlos
The most offensive-minded left-back in history
Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born 10 April 1973), often recognized as Roberto Carlos and sometimes RC3, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He has been described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game", and one of the greatest full-backs in history. In 1997, he was runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year and in 2002, was runner-up for the Ballon d'Or. He is primarily known for his long career at Real Madrid and constant presence on the Brazilian national team.
- Position
- Left-Back
- National Team
- Brazil
- World Cup Titles
- 1 (2002)
- Status
- Retired Legend
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Roberto Carlos began his professional career at União São João. In 1992, aged 19, he joined Atlético Mineiro on loan and went on the club's tour of Europe. In 1993, he joined Palmeiras, winning two consecutive Brazilian league titles. After almost signing for Aston Villa in 1995, he moved to Inter Milan, scoring a 30-yard free-kick on his debut but having an unsuccessful season. He joined Real Madrid in 1996, spending 11 seasons, playing 584 matches and scoring 71 goals, winning four La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions Leagues. He later played for Fenerbahçe and Corinthians, and briefly came out of retirement in 2015 as player/manager of Delhi Dynamos.
In Their Own Story
The stadium lights hummed over the pitch in Yokohama, Japan, 2002. The air was thick with anticipation as Brazil prepared for the final whistle of their journey. Roberto Carlos stood on the sideline, jersey stained with grass and sweat, watching Ronaldo take the field. He had spent weeks grinding through training, his powerful legs carrying him through four tournaments. As the trophy was lifted, the weight of history settled on his shoulders—not just as a player, but as a guardian of the yellow shirt.
Reader's Guide
Roberto Carlos made his Brazil debut in 1992. He played in three World Cups, reaching the final in 1998 and winning in 2002. He was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1998 and 2002. With 125 caps, he has the fourth-most appearances for Brazil. He is especially known for a bending 40-yard free kick against France in the Tournoi de France 1997. He was chosen for the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in a 2002 FIFA poll. He took up management with Sivasspor in June 2013, resigned in December 2014, managed Akhisarspor from January to June 2015, and was appointed player/manager of Delhi Dynamos in 2015.
Did You Know?
- Roberto Carlos scored a 30-yard free-kick on his Inter Milan debut in a 1–0 win over Vicenza.
- He assisted Zinedine Zidane's winning goal in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, considered one of the greatest goals in Champions League history.
- He scored a bending volley from near the sideline in a Copa del Rey match against Tenerife in February 1998, described as an 'impossible goal'.
- He is one of the few players to have made over 1,100 professional career appearances at clubs and international levels.
More in honours
Elsewhere in the FIFA World Cup universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record