Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, March 13, 2026, 7:27 p.m. / Updated Friday, March 13, 2026, 7:29 p.m.
Ze Roberto has revealed that his addiction to video games, particularly Crash Bandicoot, and spending time with his wife affected his time at Real Madrid when he was just 21 years old.
The Brazilian played for “galacticos” between 1997 and 1998, during which he played in 21 games and scored 1 goal,
Ze Roberto admits his mistakes: “Imagine having sex all day and losing sleep all night playing video games”
The former footballer admits his mistakes in his youth, when he played in the Real Madrid jersey:
“It was very difficult. Video games messed me up a lot because I was a kid, I was 21. My wife was also very young, 18-19. One of my dreams, besides being a footballer and buying a car, was to have a PlayStation. Newly married, I was like a rooster. I was making love all day and playing video games at night. I was going to practice with dark circles. Imagine having sex all day and losing sleep at night playing video games“, admitted the former Brazilian international, winner of two Copa America with Brazil (1997 and 1999).
In an interview with GE, the former Brazilian player described how these addictions were destroying his fitness without him even realizing it. The Bayern Munich idol admitted that the frustration of not being able to finish video games caused him anxiety, which in turn led to nighttime hunger, leading the Real Madrid player to binge eat and gain weight.
“It was the only time I was out of my ideal physical shape”, said the defender who played for Real Madrid, Flamengo, Bayern, Palmeiras and Bayer Leverkusen.
Ze Roberto admitted that nowadays many athletes suffer from the same addictions as him: “This distracts and affects the concentration of many athletes these days“, admitted the Brazilian.
What Ze Roberto looks like now, at 51 years old / photo: instagram @zeroberto
Ze Roberto, 84 caps in the Brazilian national team
The player had a career marked by titles and, later, an enviable physical form that allowed him to play until the age of 43. He left his mark in German football, where he became an idol at Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen, and in his home country, he became an idol at Palmeiras, where he played until the end of his career.
Former Brazilian international Ze Roberto retired in 2017 at the age of 43. Over the years, the midfielder has played for major clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Hamburger, Flamengo, Santos, Gremio and Palmeiras.
In that season, he made 21 appearances and scored one goal for the Madrid team. At international level, Ze Roberto was a regular for Brazil, for whom he collected 84 caps and scored 6 goals.
