Ze Roberto speaks without filters. The 51-year-old Brazilian looks back on his time as a professional footballer, reviewing his time at Real Madrid, where bad habits affected his performance, and recalls the frustration of not participating in the 2002 World Cup. It is a story in which mistakes taught him to regain consistency and maintain it to this day. "Today I am more disciplined than Cristiano Ronaldo," he told Globo's Abre Aspas.

Ze was always a normal boy and thanks to his mother's insistence and his talent, he came to Madrid. But the Brazilian admits that he did not take full advantage of the opportunity: "Video game addiction affected my performance," he said. The sleepless nights and neglect of his diet took its toll on his game. "I ate a lot of cookies, I would finish one box and start another. When I realized it, I had gained weight," he said honestly.

I used to eat a lot of cookies, I would finish one box and start another

Zé Roberto, former Real Madrid player.

The former player acknowledges that his arrival at Madrid was not easy at all. He arrived at one of the best clubs in the world without being physically or psychologically prepared. Around him, luxury cars and teammates always impeccably dressed in suits; he, in simple clothes. "Roberto Carlos joked that they would think he had gone to paint the dressing room," he recalled with humor.

Learning from mistakes

However, where many would have given up, Ze Roberto carried on. An example of this was when he was not called up for the 2002 World Cup: "I felt disappointed. I didn't even watch the World Cup," he confessed. But he did not let himself be defeated and fought to be called up for the next tournament. Thanks to the mistakes of the past, he enhanced his discipline, and at 51 years of age, he has a stable job and maintains an impressive physique.