Former player Zé Roberto spoke openly about his football journey in an interview for Abre Aspas on ge.
Having made his mark at major clubs and with the Brazilian National Team, he shared the highs and lows of a career that lasted until he was 43, highlighting an unusual explanation for his “flop” at the powerful Real Madrid.
Video Game Addiction
The start of his European journey didn’t go as expected. Signed by Real Madrid at 21, newly married, Zé Roberto admits that a lack of maturity and a video game addiction held him back.
“Video games got in my way a lot… One of my dreams… was to have a PlayStation. And we bought one… I’d spend all day with my girlfriend and at night, I’d play video games,” revealed the former player, explaining how the stress of trying to “beat” games like Crash Bandicoot led him to eat late at night and, consequently, lose his physical shape. “This is something that takes away the concentration and focus of many athletes today,” he reflects. His time at the Spanish club lasted just over a year, with 21 matches played.
The turnaround and physical discipline
After returning to Brazil for a brief stint at Flamengo, Zé Roberto went back to Europe, this time to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.
This experience made him realize the importance of physical preparation. Later, at 35, back at Bayern Munich, he established his routine of taking care of his body, something he maintains to this day.
About his discipline, he even dared to compare himself to Cristiano Ronaldo: “When I was playing, I think so [I was more disciplined]. After I ended my career, I’m still a very strict, disciplined guy.”
Disappointments with the National Team and racism
Zé Roberto didn’t hide his sadness at being left out of the 2002 World Cup: “Was I upset? Of course, I didn’t even watch the World Cup. I went through my mourning then.”
He also recalled the elimination in the 2006 World Cup, stating that the Brazilian National Team was the favorite, but some players lacked physical preparation.
On racism in football, Zé Roberto was emphatic: “For me, racism is a cancer that they haven’t found a cure for yet… It’s appalling to talk about racism nowadays and still not have a severe punishment.”
Life after football
At 51, Zé Roberto says he’s in the “best phase of his life.” Currently, he dedicates himself to giving motivational talks and mentoring young athletes, as well as inspiring his followers with his training routine on social media. “Being an inspiration is what motivates me the most. That gives me purpose.”
He also praised Neymar and believes in his potential for the 2026 World Cup: “In the last call-up, there’s no player with Neymar’s talent and quality. Now imagine him in good physical shape. There’s no way not to call him up.”
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
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