Roberto Carlos

TL;DR:

Brazilian left back born 10 April 1973 in Garça, São Paulo.
Eleven seasons at Real Madrid with 527 games and 68 goals.
Three UEFA Champions Leagues and the 2002 World Cup with Brazil.
Famous 1997 free kick that inspired a physics explanation.
His attacking full back play still shapes coaching and tactics.

Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha is a Brazilian former left back. He was born on 10 April 1973 in Garça, São Paulo. He became a global star with Real Madrid and Brazil. His pace, power, and set pieces changed how teams use full backs. Wikipedia lists 125 Brazil caps and 10 goals. Real Madrid list his international caps as 128. The small gap reflects how different bodies count friendlies and late call ups.

Career highlights in short

He played in Brazil with União São João and Palmeiras, in Italy with Inter, in Spain with Real Madrid, in Turkey with Fenerbahçe, then later with Corinthians and Anzhi. He closed his playing days with a short Delhi Dynamos stint in 2015. The long Real Madrid spell from 1996 to 2007 defined his prime.

Real Madrid’s official archive credits him with 527 games and 68 goals for the club. He won multiple league titles and became a face of the Galácticos era.

With Brazil, he played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, winning in 2002. He also won the Copa América in 1997 and 1999 and the 1997 Confederations Cup.

Trophies and milestones

Club

UEFA Champions League titles in 1998, 2000, and 2002 with Real Madrid.
La Liga titles in 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, and 2006–07.
UEFA Super Cup in 2002 and two Intercontinental Cups.
These club honors appear in both Wikipedia and Real Madrid’s archive.

Country

FIFA World Cup 2002 winner.
Copa América 1997 and 1999 winner.
FIFA Confederations Cup 1997 winner.
These honors are consistent across major records.

The free kick that bent physics

On 3 June 1997, he scored a free kick against France in the Tournoi de France. The ball started wide of the post, then swerved in. Years later, French scientists modeled that curved path as a spiral for a fast spinning sphere. Wired reported the research and why such a path becomes visible over long distances. The shot turned a party trick into a physics case study.

He scored other set piece goals, including a thunderous strike against China at the 2002 World Cup group stage on 8 June 2002. FIFA’s archive features the goal in its video collection.

How he changed the full back role

Roberto Carlos pushed high and attacked like a winger. He overlapped, crossed early, and shot from range. UEFA features his masterclass notes on crossing, positioning, and set pieces. Coaches still share those clips with young full backs. The idea is clear. Win the flank with runs, then deliver clean balls fast.

His approach suits modern systems that ask full backs to create. You see echoes of his game in players who sprint into half spaces, switch play, and join counters. The best still study his plant foot, body angle, and long stride before contact on free kicks.

Playing style, simply put

Pace and engine. He covered the entire left side for 90 minutes.
Ball striking. He hit shots and crosses with heavy spin.
Crossing variety. He could whip near post or hang a back post ball.
Defensive work. He pressed early to force poor clearances.
UEFA’s tutorials and match footage show these patterns.

Quick facts and records

Item	Number or note
Date of birth	10 April 1973
Height	1.68 m
Brazil caps and goals	125 caps, 10 goals, per Wikipedia. Real Madrid list 128 caps.
Real Madrid matches and goals	527 matches, 68 goals, club official count
Champions League titles	3 with Real Madrid
World Cup titles	1 with Brazil, in 2002

Sources used for the table are the Real Madrid archive and Wikipedia. The cap count difference is explained above.

Post-playing work

He has coached and served as an ambassador. He worked with Anzhi and coached in Turkey and India. He now often appears in charity and legends games and acts as a Real Madrid ambassador. ESPN and club materials reflect this pathway.

Common questions

Was he the best left back of his era

Many fans argue yes. Awards voting backs it up. He finished runner up for FIFA World Player of the Year in 1997 and runner up for the 2002 Ballon d’Or. Those placements, plus club and country titles, put him in any top list.

What made his free kicks dip late

The combination of high ball speed and heavy spin shifts the pressure around the ball. Over distance the path curves more, creating the late bend seen against France. That effect matches the spiral model reported by Wired.

How do young players learn from him

Study his run up and contact on dead balls. Practice three cross types, near post whip, back post hang, and driven cutback. Watch his UEFA tutorials on crossing and positioning, which break down timing and body shape.

Simple checklist to study Roberto Carlos

Watch the 1997 France free kick to see ball flight.
Watch the 2002 World Cup goal against China for power and placement.
Read the UEFA pieces on crossing and positioning.
Revisit Real Madrid’s archive for match counts and honors.
Compare cap totals across sources to learn record-keeping limits.

Why it matters

He helped redefine the full back as a creator and scorer. Teams now recruit for speed, crossing, and set pieces on the flank. His legacy also shows how science meets sport, where one free kick sparked real research. For young players, his game proves that technique and fitness can change a position.