Zé Roberto started the youth ranks of Palestra de São Bernardo but it was while playing for Portuguesa, as a left-back, that he became known throughout Brazil finishing as runner-up in 1996 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. He then joined Real Madrid in 1997 for a brief spell, where he helped them win La Liga, before moving back to Brazil to play for Flamengo. In an interview in 2012, Zé Roberto spoke of his decision to leave Madrid because of his ambition to play for Brazil at the World Cup in France and had limited opportunities to prove his talents in Spain. Zé played for Flamengo in 1998, playing for the Gávea alongside big footballing names such as Romário and Palhinha. He played twenty-four league games but failed to score any goals. His spell at Flamengo was very short, considering tha