Friendship through Futsal: Roberto Carlos fields inquiries

Up close and personal with Roberto Carlos in the digital "Football for Friendship" season 9

Roberto Carlos, the legendary Brazilian footballer and global ambassador of the "Football for Friendship" (F4F) program, gave an exclusive online press conference, dishing on his life, career, and commitment to the program.

When asked about his most iconic goal, Roberto, with a gleam in his eye, fondly reminisced the vintage moment he scored a free-kick against the French national team on June 3, 1997, at the Saint-Denis Stadium. Another standout moment was the sensational goal he netted against CD Tenerife on February 21, 1998. These unforgettable moments were like a climax in his career, he said, with the football derbies between Real Madrid and Barcelona being particularly unforgettable. His favorite teams were the Brazilian national team of 2002 and the "Galácticos" of Real Madrid. Discussing the commercialization of football, he believes it depends on the individual club, with football continuing to grow, both tactically and technically.

David Sargent, a young journalist from Ireland, asked about the origin of Roberto's name. The player confirmed that he was indeed named after the famous Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos Braga, whose music his father adored. Speaking of his musical inclinations, Carlos himself admires another Brazilian singer, Alexandre Pires. As a 12-year-old growing up in a humble family, he aspired to be a lawyer. However, his life took a drastic turn, leading to a football career in Brazil, a spot on the national team, and an invitation to Europe. His family, especially his father who was a former footballer, played a crucial role in supporting him, though it was difficult to leave them at the age of 13.

Kinli Dekyong from Bhutan asked Roberto what he'd like to do differently today. With a contented smile, he stated that he had been on cloud nine, both personally and professionally. He revealed that he never knew fear and had aspirations, such as building a home for his parents. Magnifying the importance of good-natured relationships, he advised teamwork as the key to success.

Mihailo Nesich, a young journalist from Serbia, played a beautiful serenade on his piano for Roberto. Curious to know about his creative interests and hobbies, Roberto candidly shared that he didn't possess any particular talents, exclaiming that his life was all about football, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Aahana Cambodia from India shared her excitement about the online meeting with Roberto, highlighting the opportunities it presented for young journalists to delve into the stories of famous footballers. She thanked Roberto for emphasizing the importance of teamwork and advised everyone to follow this rule in life.

The ninth season of 'Football for Friendship' is taking place in a digital format from May 14 to 29, 2021. This year, "Football for Friendship" games unite boys and girls from over 200 countries. Young players aged 12 are participating in the 2021 World Online Championship of 'Football for Friendship'. All meetings are held on the "F4F World" football simulator platform, which is available in 27 languages on Windows, MAC, Android, and iOS operating systems.

(Reflecting his undying passion for Formula 1, Roberto Carlos shared that if not a footballer, he would have pursued a career as an F1 driver, highlighting his interest in motorsports. His dedication to youth engagement has been evident in his recent visit to Nepal to engage with young football enthusiasts. Source: [1],[2],[4],[5],[6] )

Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian football legend and global ambassador for "Football for Friendship" (F4F), spoke fondly about his career, particularly his unforgettable goals, such as the goal against the French national team and CD Tenerife, and the football derbies between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
During the online press conference, when asked about his musical inclinations, Roberto Carlos mentioned his admiration for another Brazilian singer, Alexandre Pires.
Reflecting on his life, Roberto Carlos shared that if not a footballer, he would have pursued a career as an F1 driver, highlighting his interest in motorsports.
Roberto Carlos emphasized the importance of teamwork during the online press conference, advising young journalists and footballers alike to follow this rule in life, as it played a crucial role in his success.