O Former player Roberto Carlos, currently 52 years old, is under hospital observation in Spain after undergoing surgery to implant a catheter. He commented on his current condition in an interview with the Spanish newspaper “As”.
– Now I’m fine and I’m still under constant surveillance – commented Roberto Carlos.
The former full-back initially sought medical attention to undergo tests on his leg, when a blood clot was identified. Based on this finding, he underwent more detailed examinations, including an MRI, which revealed a change in the functioning of the heart.
Given the diagnosis, Roberto Carlos had to be hospitalized to undergo a catheter insertion procedure. The surgery, which was estimated to last around 40 minutes, ended up lasting approximately three hours due to complications during the process. Despite the unforeseen situation, the situation was controlled and the former player is no longer at risk. He remains hospitalized for observation only, for at least 48 hours.
The former athlete remains accompanied by family and healthcare professionals, without presenting any additional complications. The doctors’ expectation is for a full recovery, without significant restrictions, allowing him to normally resume his routine after hospital discharge.
In April 2025, Roberto Carlos had already faced a health problem when he had to cancel a trip to Nepal after suffering a “sudden illness”, according to a statement released by the organization of the event in which he would participate.
Roberto Carlos: history and current work
Roberto Carlos built one of the most successful careers in the history of world football, with absolute prominence for Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. He currently serves as an ambassador for the Spanish club, representing the institution at official events around the world. With Real Madrid, where he played between 1996 and 2007, he won several titles, including three UEFA Champions Leagues, four Spanish Championships, two Intercontinental Cups and multiple national trophies.
Revealed by União São João de Araras, Roberto Carlos gained national recognition at Palmeiras, where he was Brazilian champion in 1993 and 1994. He then had a spell at Inter Milan, in Italy, before moving to Real Madrid, a club where he established himself as one of the greatest left-backs of all time. After leaving Spanish football, he played for Fenerbahçe, in Türkiye, where he also won national titles.
In 2010, the former full-back returned to Brazil to wear the Corinthians shirt, meeting Ronaldo Fenômeno again and participating in a project that brought great repercussions to Brazilian football. He later played for Anzhi Makhachkala, in Russia, and ended his career at Delhi Dynamos, in India, where he also began his career as a coach.
For the Brazilian team, Roberto Carlos played in four editions of the Copa América and three World Cups. He was an absolute starter in the fifth world championship campaign in 2002, when he participated in six matches and scored one goal. Throughout his career, he was marked not only by titles, but also by the power of his shots, his offensive capacity and for having redefined the role of the left-back in modern football.
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