How Roberto Carlos lost 99% of €155m fortune
Table of Contents
 |
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Roberto Carlos says he lost 99% of his football earnings.
- He blamed problems involving agents and family matters.
- The Brazil legend warned young players to protect their wealth.
The 53-year-old former left-back made the revelation during an appearance at the Portugal Football Summit, where he spoke about the financial difficulties he experienced after a hugely successful playing career.
Roberto Carlos says he lost almost everything
Carlos is understood to have accumulated substantial wealth during a career that included winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Brazil and becoming one of Madrid's most recognisable players.Reports have previously put his fortune at around €155 million, which is a reported estimate rather than a publicly verified statement of Carlos' actual net worth.
I had problems with people who left me with zero money. Because of agents and family issues, I lost 99% of everything I had earned in football.Carlos said the financial collapse happened with alarming speed.
On a Thursday, I went to bed at midnight, and on Friday, I received a bunch of papers I didn't even know existed. That's when I lost my entire history.He did not provide a detailed public breakdown of the assets, legal arrangements or transactions behind the losses.
A warning to younger footballers
Carlos said he had thought carefully about his future after retiring from football.He obtained a sporting director's licence and worked with brands, believing he had prepared for life beyond the pitch.
Despite those plans, he said serious problems involving a former agent and a family matter left him facing a major financial crisis.
His experience has now become a warning for the next generation of professional footballers.
I made mistakes, and that's why I ask younger players not to make the same mistakes.
From World Cup glory to financial problems
Carlos built his reputation during an extraordinary career that included 11 years at Los Blancos, where he won major domestic and European honours.He was also part of Brazil's 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning team and later played for Fenerbahçe, Corinthians and Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.
He also came close to moving to Chelsea in 2007. Carlos later revealed that the transfer was effectively agreed before a contractual issue prevented the deal from being completed, with the defender eventually joining Fenerbahçe instead.
Divorce added to the financial pressure
Carlos' financial problems have emerged alongside significant changes in his personal life.His marriage to Mariana Luccon ended after more than 15 years, with reports in January 2025 describing a potential dispute over his substantial assets.
Reports at the time also claimed that Carlos had temporarily moved to Madrid's Valdebebas training complex. Carlos rejected claims about his living situation, describing them as false and damaging to him and his family.
Carlos has also been widely reported to have 11 children with seven different women. In July 2026, he married Souhaila Tahiri in a private ceremony.
Carlos says he has rebuilt his life
Despite describing the experience as devastating, Carlos said he has since managed to restructure his life.He has spoken about using what happened to help younger athletes understand the importance of protecting their finances, choosing professional advisers carefully and preparing properly for life after football.
The lesson is not simply about how much money can be earned in football. It is about what happens to that money once the career ends.
More Football Stories
Editor's Pick
Post a Comment