Real Madrid icon Roberto Carlos has reportedly undergone emergency heart surgery in Brazil after being taken to hospital. The 52-year-old was enjoying a holiday in his homeland with his wife and one child after taking part in the World Cup draw in the United States earlier this month.
Carlos is one of the most decorated defenders in football history, moving to Europe in 1995 to join Inter Milan. After a year at San Siro, he signed with Real Madrid and went on to win three Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. During his time at the Bernabéu, he helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup and went on to win 127 caps for Brazil. He retired in early 2016 after a short spell with India’s Delhi Dynamos.
According to Spanish media outlet AS, Carlos was initially taken to hospital with a small blood clot in his leg. However, a full-body MRI scan revealed a heart problem.
According to reports, the former left-back will need emergency surgery to insert a tube, which is expected to take 40 minutes. However, due to a problem, the process took nearly three hours to complete.
The 2002 World Cup winner is said to be doing well after the surgery, but will remain in hospital for 48 hours as a precaution. “I’m fine now,” he told the publication through a close aide.
Since retiring from football, Carlos has featured in Soccer Aid matches and also appeared for the Shropshire-based Sunday League team in 2022.
And speaking on the Obi Wan Podcast in December, the Brazilian opened up about his time at Real Madrid, revealing that the best player he shared the pitch with at the Bernabéu was David Beckham.
“Beckham, of course Beckham (who was my best teammate, Zinedine) Zidane was the top, but David Beckham was my close friend and role model.”
“He was great in training and in the games. He was always running and making incredible passes. He played with all his heart. Whatever you say about Ronaldo, Zidane, Raul and Luis Figo during his four years with the Galacticos, Beckham was, in my opinion, the most consistent and the best.”
“Beckham was for the team. Beckham attacked, he defended, he passed. He did everything the team needed. Things that the public didn’t see, but we as a team on the pitch saw all these attributes.”
