Sports

Real Madrid soccer legend Roberto Carlos recovering after heart surgery

January 3, 2026

Story byBernadette GiacomazzoSat, January 3, 2026 at 2:36 PM UTC·2 min readReal Madrid soccer legend Roberto Carlos recovering after heart surgery originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Soccer icon Roberto Carlos is recovering after undergoing a preventive heart procedure, a situation the Brazilian great addressed directly this week to calm concern among fans around the world. According to ESPN, the former Real Madrid and Brazil star confirmed that he had surgery at a hospital in São Paulo after doctors identified an underlying heart issue during medical testing. He made it clear, however, that reports suggesting he suffered a heart attack were incorrect. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Ex-Mets legend Lenny Dykstra facing drug charges after traffic stop“I would like to clarify recent information that has been circling,” Roberto Carlos said in a statement shared on social media.

Real Madrid soccer legend Roberto Carlos recovering after heart surgery

Credit: Yahoo

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“I recently underwent a preventative medical procedure, planned in advance with my medical team.
The procedure was successful, and I am well.”The initial reason for Roberto Carlos’ hospital visit was unrelated to his heart.
The 52-year-old had been undergoing routine exams after doctors detected a thrombus in one of his legs.
Further testing, including an MRI, revealed that a significant portion of his heart was not functioning as it should, prompting doctors to recommend immediate intervention. What was expected to be a relatively short procedure ultimately lasted close to three hours due to complications during the placement of a catheter intended to correct the problem.
Despite the extended surgery, Roberto Carlos emphasized that the outcome was positive and that he is already focused on his recovery. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I did not suffer a heart attack,” he said.

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Real Madrid soccer legend Roberto Carlos recovering after heart surgery

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

Real Madrid soccer legend Roberto Carlos recovering after heart surgery

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