Roberto Carlos says he lost 99% of his football earnings after retirement

Monday 28 September 2026 - 10:42

Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has revealed that he lost around 99% of the money he earned during his professional football career, describing a period of severe financial and family difficulties that followed his time on the pitch.

The 53-year-old former left-back made the disclosure during the Portugal Football Summit, where he took part in a discussion focused on players' careers after retirement, personal branding and long-term financial planning.

Roberto Carlos said his financial problems were linked to difficulties involving people who had managed his affairs, as well as serious family issues. He acknowledged that he had also made mistakes and urged younger players to take greater care when managing the wealth generated during their careers.

A sudden financial setback

According to Roberto Carlos, the deterioration of his financial situation happened abruptly. He recalled discovering documents and financial commitments that he said he had not previously known about.

The former Real Madrid star described the experience as a moment when he effectively lost almost everything he had accumulated through football. His account, reported by several media outlets following the Portugal event, focused on problems involving a former agent and a major family dispute.

Despite the scale of the losses, Roberto Carlos said he eventually managed to rebuild his financial and personal situation. He presented the experience not simply as a personal setback, but as a warning for players who may find themselves unprepared for the financial and professional challenges that follow retirement.

Planning for life after football

Roberto Carlos also stressed that he had thought about his post-playing career while he was still an active footballer.

He said he had obtained a sporting-director qualification before ending his playing career and had already developed commercial relationships with several brands. His comments underlined the importance, in his view, of preparing a professional identity beyond football rather than relying exclusively on playing income.

The former defender has since remained active in the football industry and works as a Real Madrid ambassador. His experience has given him a platform to speak directly to younger players about the risks associated with poor financial planning.

A warning for the next generation

At the Portugal Football Summit, Roberto Carlos said he now shares the difficult episodes of his own career with younger athletes so they can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

His message comes at a time when financial education and career planning have become increasingly important topics in professional football. Players can earn substantial incomes during relatively short careers, while the transition away from professional sport can bring significant changes in income, lifestyle and professional identity.

For Roberto Carlos, his own experience illustrates the importance of controlling financial decisions, understanding documents and contracts, choosing advisers carefully and developing sources of income beyond the playing career.

The former Brazil international's story therefore extends beyond the loss of money. It has become part of the advice he now gives to a new generation of footballers: success on the pitch does not automatically guarantee financial security after retirement.