Roberto Carlos made an unlikely return to action on Friday as the World Cup-winning former Brazil defender played for a Shropshire-based Sunday league team.

The 48-year-old ex-Real Madrid full-back showed some nice touches after coming off the bench in the first half and then came back on to score a penalty late on as Bull in the Barne were beaten 4-3 by fellow Shrewsbury and District Sunday League Division 1 team Harlescott Rangers at Hanwood Village Hall Recreation Centre today.

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Carlos, who won over 100 caps and the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, spending 11 seasons with Real Madrid that included three Champions League triumphs, shared his joy at being back on the pitch.

He said after the game: “I’m very happy to be back playing.

“Football is amazing and even though I’ve had the opportunity to play with the biggest names in world football, playing here is very enjoyable. Always good to score a goal!

“A lot of people don’t realise that even though I played with some of the biggest clubs and best players in the world I started ‘here’ in Brazil, at 13, 14 years old. It brings back great memories for me playing on pitches like this.”

Money raised from the raffle, which is open to anyone associated with a Sunday league team and costing £5 to enter, has gone to Football Beyond Borders, a charity that helps disadvantaged young people in the community.

Bull in the Barne manager and goalkeeper Ed Speller, who made the raffle entry for the team, said: “We can safely say it’s the best moment of our footballing careers and it’s been one of the best days of our lives probably.

“It’s been amazing, the whole experience from start to finish. You have to be realistic and say he won’t be able to banana free-kick from 35 yards out maybe any more, but the penalty… that was top-quality, bottom-corner.

“Even any touch he had, every pass was directly to someone and on this pitch, that’s not easy, we’re struggling throughout the game to do that. He’s just a class player.”

Defender Liam Turrall added: “It’s still feeling surreal, to see him here – it’s almost like this mythical creature almost. You’ve seen him on TV, you’ve seen him in sticker books when you were a kid. So to see him here in the flesh is a really surreal experience that I’m sure will sink in later.”

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