Video Games, Biscuits, and a Missed Opportunity: Former Real Madrid Player Opens Up About Past Mistakes

"Today, I am more disciplined than Cristiano Ronaldo," he declared unequivocally on Globo TV's program Abre Aspas.

The former Brazilian international acknowledges that his transfer to one of the world's biggest clubs came at a time when he wasn't yet prepared to handle the pressure or demands of top-tier football. With hindsight, he openly admits that his professional development was hampered by an addiction that might seem harmless.

"Video game addiction affected my performance," he candidly remarked. Instead of rest and recovery, he spent nights playing, which gradually impacted his physical condition. "I ate a lot of biscuits, finishing one box and immediately opening another. I didn't even realize how much weight I had gained," he added.

His arrival at Real Madrid was not just a sporting challenge but also a personal test. He found himself in an environment full of stars, luxury, and high expectations, for which he was unprepared. The differences between him and his teammates were, in his words, immediately apparent. "Roberto Carlos joked that they would think I had come to paint the locker room," he recalled with a smile, referring to his legendary compatriot's words.

One of the toughest moments of his career was when the national team coach omitted him from Brazil's squad for the 2002 World Cup. Although it was a pinnacle event that his country ultimately won, Zé Roberto completely ignored it due to his personal disappointment. "I felt disappointed. I didn't even watch that World Cup," he admitted, frustrated.

Despite initial setbacks, he didn't give up. His experiences in Madrid and the painful absence from the World Cup forced him to re-evaluate his approach to professional sports. He gradually developed into one of the most reliable players of his generation and eventually earned his way back into the national team.

Today, at 51 years old, he is an example of positive life transformation. He maintains excellent physical condition, works consistently, and openly discusses his past mistakes as lessons that shaped his career and personality.