Brazilian football icon Roberto Carlos has been hospitalised in Sao Paulo, Brazil with a heart problem – and surgery to fix it took over three hours due to ‘complications’.
Carlos, 52, is widely regarded as one of the best full backs in history, winning the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with Real Madrid in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
He was hospitalised in his native Brazil with a heart problem after having a medical test on his leg, where he has a small blood clot.
A full-body MRI reportedly revealed that his heart was not functioning correctly, with the Brazilian legend then believed to have been immediately admitted for surgery to insert a catheter.
As per Spanish outlet AS, the procedure lasted sometime longer than the 40 minutes anticipated, with Carlos in the operating theatre for closer to three hours.
However, the operation is thought to have been successful, with the outlet adding that Carlos is ‘out of danger’ but being kept under observation for the next two days.
Roberto Carlos is pictured at the World Cup draw earlier this month in Washington DC
The Brazil legend and former Real Madrid galactico is one of his nations most decorated stars
Carlos offered AS a message, communicating through his representatives that he is ‘fine now’.
The health scare is the second that the 52-year-old is thought to have suffered in 2025, after the star was forced to postpone a planned trip to Nepal in April.
Carlos was due to arrive on April 18 to participate in the Nepal Super League before it was announced that he had suffered ‘a sudden illness’.
The visit was rescheduled, with Carlos arriving in Kathmandu some days later for the competition’s finals.
At the start of the year, Carlos hit the headlines under similarly inclement circumstances with media speculation that the Real Madrid ambassador was sleeping at the training ground amid rumours that he was set to divorce his wife – and mother of two of his 11 children – Mariana Lucon.
The couple had tied the knot in June 2009, and share two daughters, Manuela and Mariana, and the news was paired with the suggestion that Lucon could be seeking a share of his eyewatering £133million fortune.
Carlos is thought to be in a stable condition, with the star saying he is ‘fine’ after the surgery
The 52-year-old reached the pinnacle of his international career winning the 2022 World Cup
In January Carlos was forced to deny rumours that he was sleeping at the Real Madrid training ground amid a divorce from his wife Mariana Lucon
But Carlos was quick to address the news after it broke, stressing that these were ‘baseless rumours’.
‘In recent days, I have become aware of false and damaging stories circulating about me and my family,’ Carlos said in a statement.
While I value privacy, I feel compelled to address the baseless rumours about my living situation. These fabricated stories are entirely false and seem designated to generate clicks.
‘I remain at a private residence, supported by members of my family. My legal team is reviewing these claims and will take appropriate action. I ask for privacy regarding personal matters and thank those who continue to support me during this time.’
