Diego Carlos and Roberto Carlos are two Brazilian footballers who have made their mark in the world of soccer. Diego Carlos is a centre-back who plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League, while Roberto Carlos is a retired left-back who is widely regarded as one of the best in his position of all time. But are they related by blood or by name? Here is what we know about their family ties and backgrounds.
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The origins of Diego Carlos and Roberto Carlos
Diego Carlos was born in Barra Bonita, São Paulo, on March 15, 1993. His full name is Diego Carlos Santos Silva, and he is the son of a watchmaker and a seamstress. He has three older siblings: Lauro, Carlos Alberto, and Norminha. He started playing football at a young age and joined the youth academy of Desportivo Brasil in 2010. He then moved to Portugal, where he played for Estoril and Porto B, before joining Nantes in France in 2016. He then transferred to Sevilla in Spain in 2019, where he won the Europa League in his first season. In 2022, he signed for Aston Villa in England for a fee of €31 million.
Roberto Carlos was born in Garça, São Paulo, on April 10, 1973. His full name is Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha, and he is the fourth and last son of a watchmaker and a seamstress. He also has three older siblings: Lauro, Carlos Alberto, and Norminha. He lost his right leg below the knee when he was six years old after being hit by a steam locomotive. He learned to play the guitar and the piano as a child and also developed a passion for football. He joined União São João in 1991 and then moved to Palmeiras in 1993, where he won two Brazilian league titles. He then moved to Europe, where he played for Inter Milan in Italy for one season before joining Real Madrid in Spain in 1996. He spent 11 years at Real Madrid, where he won four La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies. He then played for Fenerbahçe in Turkey, Corinthians in Brazil, Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, and Delhi Dynamos in India before retiring in 2016.
The international careers of Diego Carlos and Roberto Carlos
Diego Carlos made his debut for the Brazil national team in July 2021, at the age of 28. He was part of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics Men’s Football Final in Tokyo. He has since earned six caps for Brazil and has not scored any goals.
Roberto Carlos made his debut for the Brazil national team in 1992, at the age of 19. He was part of the squad that won the World Cup in 2002 in South Korea and Japan, as well as two Copa América titles in 1997 and 1999. He also won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics Men’s Football Final in Atlanta. He is famous for his powerful and bending free kicks, especially the one he scored against France in 1997 from 40 yards out. He earned 125 caps for Brazil and scored 11 goals.
The answer is no. Diego Carlos and Roberto Carlos are not related by blood or by name. They share the same surname because it is a common one in Brazil, derived from the Latin word “carolus”, meaning “man”. They also share some similarities in their personal and professional lives, such as being born in São Paulo, having parents who were watchmakers and seamstresses, playing as defenders, moving to Europe to play for top clubs, and representing Brazil at international level. However, they have different middle names, different dates of birth, different physical appearances, different playing styles, and different career paths.
Therefore, Diego Carlos and Roberto Carlos are not relatives, but they are both successful Brazilian footballers who have made their country proud with their achievements on the pitch.
