Roberto Carlos says divorce erased 99 percent of his £133 million

Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid left‑back and 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil, told the Portugal Football Summit on 25 September 2026 that he had lost 99 percent of his £133 million career earnings after a bitter divorce and problems with a former agent.

Financial collapse explained

He said agents and family issues left him with “zero money”, adding that a sudden flood of paperwork on a Friday night erased his entire financial history. “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,” he recalled at the summit.

“Because of agents and family issues, I lost 99 percent of everything I had earned in football,” Carlos explained, urging younger players to avoid the same mistakes.

Personal life and legal fallout

The former left‑back’s divorce from Mariana Luccon in 2025 ended a 15‑year marriage and triggered a settlement that media estimated at around €160 million (£133 million). The couple share two children, and rumours surfaced that Carlos was sleeping on Real Madrid’s training ground, where he works as an ambassador.

He refuted those claims on X, stating, “I remain at a private residence with my family’s support. My legal team is addressing these claims, and I request privacy during this time.”

Beyond the divorce, Carlos disclosed that he is the father of 11 children with seven women. He now lives with a partner called Manuela and has children spread across Brazil, Mexico and Hungary, while also having married Soheila Tahiri earlier this year, bringing his total marriages to three.

Post‑career and recovery

After retiring in 2012, Carlos earned up to £85,000‑a‑week at Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala before a friend helped him rebuild his finances. He holds a sports‑director licence, has worked with several brands and now serves as an ambassador for Real Madrid, describing his current situation as “more stable”.

During his playing days Carlos amassed 527 appearances for Real Madrid and earned 127 caps for Brazil, including the 2002 World Cup triumph. He also featured for Palmeiras, Inter Milan and Corinthians, and has spoken about always planning for life after football.

“I always thought about my post‑career,” he said, adding that his licence and brand work were part of that preparation. He concluded by warning, “I made mistakes, and that’s why I ask younger players not to make the same mistakes.”