Roberto Carlos reveals he lost 99% of €160m career earnings in financial warning to young players

Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid and Brazil left-back widely regarded as one of the greatest in his position, has revealed that he lost 99% of the approximately €160 million (£137.6m) he earned throughout his playing career, citing financial mismanagement and a serious family dispute as the cause.

Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit, Carlos described waking up one morning to find his accounts had been emptied. “I had problems with people who emptied my bank account,” he said. “I lost 99% of everything I earned from football. I had a very serious family problem. On Thursday, I went to bed at midnight and on Friday, I received a pile of documents I knew nothing about. That’s when I realised I had lost my entire history.”

The 53-year-old framed his experience as a cautionary tale for the next generation of professionals. “I made mistakes, and therefore, I ask younger players not to do the same,” he said. “I always thought about future plans after my playing career. It’s about building a history as a player and leveraging your image. When I decided to leave football, I already had my sporting director’s licence and was working with many brands.”

Carlos won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and claimed the Champions League three times with Real Madrid across a career spanning more than 817 appearances for seven clubs. He initially retired in 2012 before returning briefly in 2015 with Indian side Delhi Dynamos, making three appearances in the Indian Super League before retiring definitively in 2016.

Since hanging up his boots, Carlos has remained close to the game. He serves as a club representative for Real Madrid and owns Brazilian third-tier side AA Internacional de Limeira. He was also present in the United States during the summer’s World Cup preparations.

Carlos also used the opportunity to address health concerns that had circulated publicly after he underwent planned surgery last year. “I recently underwent a preventative medical procedure, planned in advance with my medical team,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “The procedure was successful, and I am well. I did not suffer a heart attack.”