Brasilia (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Former Brazil and Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos was hospitalised for emergency heart surgery in Sao Paulo after complications and is reported to be stable.
As reported by Flo Clifford of The Independent, Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos was hospitalised with a heart problem and underwent emergency surgery, which was delayed due to “complications.”
What did reports reveal about Roberto Carlos’ emergency heart surgery and recovery?
According to reports, medical scans showed the former World Cup winner had a small blood clot in one leg, and a follow-up full-body MRI revealed his heart was not functioning properly.
The 52-year-old was taken for emergency surgery to insert a catheter, with the procedure lasting three hours instead of the usual 40 minutes due to “complications,” Spanish media outlet AS said.
AS reported that the surgery was successful, with Carlos “out of danger,” but he will remain under observation for another two days.
A spokesperson for Carlos confirmed he was “fine now.”
Earlier in 2024, football icon Roberto Carlos was forced to delay a scheduled visit to Nepal after falling suddenly ill. He was set to attend the Nepal Super League, but organisers confirmed he could not attend.
After a brief health issue, Carlos delayed his arrival and reached Kathmandu a few days later than planned, just in time for the tournament’s concluding rounds.
The former full-back won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and claimed three Champions League titles with Real Madrid in 1998, 2000, and 2002.
On 5 December in Washington, DC, he attended the World Cup draw, sitting alongside fellow Brazilian legend Kaka and giving an interview to host Danny Ramirez.
What are Roberto Carlos’ thoughts on Ronaldo’s work ethic and training?
In June, Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos entered the debate on football’s greatest, backing Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi and praising his stellar career at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu.
He said,
“These days, when you talk about football, you talk about Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo. Cristiano has worked to improve. When you talk about the Ballon d’Or or any other prize, it’s not just any person who votes, it’s people who know football, who follow the stats of the players and pick the best in the world.”
Carlos added,
“I watch him train every day and the way he works is exciting. He wants to improve every day.”
He continued,
“That’s the difference with Messi. Leo is a phenomenon, we never talk about Neymar… but that side of Cristiano, of training, professionalism, focus, motivation, success… Cristiano has an advantage over all the others.”
How many games has Roberto Carlos won?
Roberto Carlos has played nearly 1,116 matches across clubs and the national team, with official club profiles listing over 1,100 professional appearances.
He scored 127 goals across all clubs and the national team, including 11 goals in 125 caps for Brazil.
Carlos enjoyed his peak years at Real Madrid, featuring in 527 matches and scoring 68 goals. Over 11 seasons, he helped the club win four La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies.