Roberto Carlos Lost 99% of Career Earnings Due to Agent and Family Issues

Brazilian football icon Roberto Carlos has disclosed that he lost 99 percent of his career earnings due to issues involving a former agent and a family member. The former left back, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, recounted at the Portugal Football Summit how he had to rebuild his finances from near-zero after encountering unforeseen financial entanglements.

'I had problems with people who left me with zero money,' Carlos stated, according to Globo. 'Because of agents and family issues, I lost 99 per cent of everything I had earned in football.' He urged younger players to learn from his experience, adding, 'I made mistakes, and that's why I ask younger players not to make the same mistakes.'

Carlos described the suddenness of the financial setback: '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.'

During his playing career, Carlos reportedly earned up to £85,000 per week at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. Despite this significant income, he found himself in a precarious financial situation. He indicated that he had to rely on a friend to help stabilize his finances.

Carlos, who retired from professional football in 2012, now serves as an ambassador for his former club, Real Madrid. He had begun planning for his post-playing career well before his retirement, focusing on building a legacy and leveraging his image.

'I always thought about my post-career,' he explained. 'It means building a legacy as a player and using your image. When I decided to stop playing football, I already had a sports director's license and was working with many brands.' His current role with Real Madrid suggests a more stable financial footing.