Editing Roberto Carlos (section)

==Style of play==

[[File:Roberto Carlos 2011.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Roberto Carlos in 2011]]
Tactically, Roberto Carlos started out playing football in Brazil as a forward – usually as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre-forward]] or [[Forward (association football)#Winger|outside forward]] – but spent most of his career as [[Defender (association football)|defender]], usually as a left-sided full-back or [[Defender (association football)#Wing-back|wing-back]]. In 2006, he was described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game", by John Carlin of ''[[The New York Times]]'';<ref name="Most Bonito"/><ref name="Carlos on free-kicks">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=751901.html |title=Roberto Carlos on free-kicks |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="l'uomo proiettile">{{cite news |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/ilcuoio/2019/04/10-55626338/roberto_carlos_l_uomo_proiettile/ |title=Roberto Carlos: l'uomo proiettile |work=Il Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=20 April 2019 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> indeed, he was known for his forward surging runs throughout his career.<ref name="unknown">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/aug/25/samuel-etoo-anzhi-makhachkala |title=Samuel Eto'o takes step into the unknown with Anzhi Makhachkala |work=The Guardian |last1=Wilson |first1=Jonathan |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> Roberto Carlos is also widely considered by several pundits as one of the best left backs in the history of the sport.<ref name="Top Ten Left-Backs">{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/131346-greatest-ever-football-top-ten-left-backs-of-all-time|title=Greatest Ever: Football: Top Ten Left-Backs Of All Time|date=11 June 2018|agency=Bleacher Report}}</ref><ref name="Brazil soccer legend Roberto Carlos">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/sport/brazil-soccer-legend-roberto-carlos-to-have-life-celebrated-at-riverside/news-story/042eefb63f6aabb7f92ac6834f813b6b|title=Brazil soccer legend Roberto Carlos to have life celebrated at Riverside|date=11 June 2018|work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="l'uomo proiettile"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1082324-20-best-fullbacks-in-world-football#slide0 |title=The 20 Best Fullbacks in World Football |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Webster |first1=Peter |date=1 March 2012 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/premier-league/2017/10/09/inter-roberto-carlos-hodgson-mi-ha-distrutto |title=Roberto Carlos: "All'Inter Hodgson mi ha distrutto, non capiva di calcio" |publisher=Sky Sport |language=it |date=9 October 2017 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> During his time at Inter, he was also used out of position as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]] in a [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2 formation]] on occasion by manager Roy Hodgson, which had a negative impact on his performances, and often saw him caught out defensively;<ref name="One-on-One"/><ref name="treccani">{{cite web |url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/roberto-carlos-da-silva_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/ |title=ROBERTO CARLOS da Silva |publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002) |language=it |last1=Monti |first1=Fabio |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> in his later career with Anzhi Makhachkala, he was instead deployed as a [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|defensive midfielder]] in a three-man midfield, in order to compensate for his loss of pace and physical decline due to his advancing age.<ref name="unknown"/>

Roberto Carlos was nicknamed ''El Hombre Bala'' ("The Bullet Man") throughout his career, due to his powerful [[Curl (association football)|bending]] shots and [[Direct free kick|free kicks]], which have been measured at over {{convert|105|mph|km/h}},<ref name="thighs">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/jun/16/worldcupfootball2002.sport2|title=Try me for thighs|work=The Guardian|date=16 June 2002}}</ref> and for which he became renowned. A set-piece specialist, he is regarded as one of the foremost free kick takers of his generation, and was known for being capable of striking the ball powerfully – in particular from long range – and of producing curling shots with the outside of his left boot in dead ball situations.<ref name="Carlos on free-kicks"/><ref name="Roberto Carlos">[https://archive.today/20141218213212/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=esp/news/newsid=765938.html "Beckham is best says Roberto Carlos"]. UEFA. Retrieved 18 December 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/aug/14/the-joy-of-six-football-and-the-outside-of-the-boot |title=The Joy of Six: football and the outside of the boot |work=The Guardian |last1=Smyth |first1=Rob |date=14 August 2019 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/11/29/brazil-legend-roberto-carlos-reveals-lucky-element-aided-his-iconic-free-kick-against-france |title=Roberto Carlos Says His Iconic Free Kick Was Wind-Aided |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=29 November 2017 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/news/kings-the-free-kick-1551015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806164048/https://www.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/news/kings-the-free-kick-1551015 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2020 |title=Kings of the free-kick |publisher=FIFA.com |date=2 December 2011 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/science-explains-carlos-banana-kick |title=Science explains Carlos' banana kick |work=The National Post |last1=Petrequin |first1=Samuel |date=3 September 2010 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="tuttocalciatori"/> A talented and consistent player, with good [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills at speed, as well as precise passing and crossing ability, he also possessed significant strength and excellent physical qualities, which along with his pace, work-rate, and energy, allowed him to cover the left flank effectively and assist at both ends of the pitch.<ref name="tuttocalciatori"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/performance/training/roberto-carlos-play-brazilian-full-back |title=Roberto Carlos: Play like a Brazilian full-back |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Murray |first1=Andrew |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> While he earned a reputation as a hard-tackler, he was also known for being a clean player throughout his career.<ref name="tuttocalciatori">{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/notizie/2014/09/roberto-carlos-il-tritolo-nel-sinistro/# |title=Roberto Carlos, il tritolo nel sinistro! |publisher=www.tuttocalciatori.net |language=it |last1=Iaccarino |first1=Lucio |date=15 September 2014 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Positions guide">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197076.stm |title=Positions guide: Wing-back |date=September 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/30/cafu-picks-his-all-time-brazil-xi |title=Cafu picks his all-time Brazil XI |work=The Guardian |last1=Cafu |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> In addition to his stamina, running speed, technical skills, and [[Cross (football)|crossing]] ability,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=71747/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129073958/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=71747/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2014|title=MasterCard All-Star Team of the 1998 World Cup|date=10 July 1998|website=www.fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solocalcio.com/gallery/stelle98/lestelle12.htm|title=Le stelle di Francia 98: da Luis Oliveira a Romario|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="RM-Profile-RC">{{cite web |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/about-real-madrid/history/football-legends/roberto-carlos-da-silva |title=ROBERTO CARLOS |publisher=Real Madrid |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> he was also known for his long [[throw in]]s, as well as his strong {{convert|24|in|cm|adj=on}} thighs, despite his small stature, which allowed him to accelerate quickly and strike the ball powerfully.<ref name="thighs" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-worldcup-throwin/long-throw-ins-a-perfect-secret-set-piece-weapon-says-specialist-coach-idUKKBN1JO1VH |title=Long throw-ins a perfect secret set-piece weapon, says specialist coach |publisher=Reuters |last1=O'Connor |first1=Philip |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=11 April 2020 }}</ref>