Football fans worldwide were gripped with concern as news broke that the legendary Roberto Carlos heart surgery took place on New Year’s Eve. The 52-year-old former Real Madrid and Brazil left-back was rushed to Hospital Vila Nova Star in São Paulo after routine medical tests revealed a serious cardiac issue.
According to reports from Diario AS, the “UFO kick” icon initially visited the hospital to check on a small blood clot in his leg while vacationing in his homeland. However, a full-body MRI scan uncovered that his heart was not functioning properly, leading to an immediate recommendation for a coronary angioplasty. While the procedure to insert a catheter usually takes around 40 minutes, complications during the surgery extended the Roberto Carlos heart surgery to nearly three hours.
Fortunately, the World Cup winner has passed the critical phase and is now in stable condition. Taking to social media from his hospital bed, Carlos shared a photo of himself smiling with the caption: “I’m fine now… I did not suffer a heart attack. I am recovering well and looking forward to returning to full fitness soon.” He will remain under close medical observation in the intensive care unit for the next 48 hours to ensure a smooth recovery. Fans and former teammates, including David Beckham and Ronaldo Nazário, have flooded his pages with well-wishes as the “Galactico” begins his road to healing.
