AirAsia on Friday officially unveiled legendary World Cup-winning Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos as the company’s new Global Brand Ambassador.
The announcement was made at a Kuala Lumpur ceremony which featured AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat as well as AirAsia X Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail in attendance.
Carlos will partner with AirAsia in several key football-related campaigns in the coming months, and the former Real Madrid star appeared enthusiastic about the prospects of this collaboration.
“In Brazil, we say ‘because we suffer so much, we value football.’ This shows you can succeed no matter where you come from, as long as you believe and work hard, and I’m thrilled to represent a brand like AirAsia which prides itself in making dreams come true,” Carlos said.
AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes was equally excited about the partnership, emphasising that Carlos’ incredible career fits the company’s culture and long-term aspirations.
“No one embodies the ‘dare to dream’ spirit like Roberto Carlos,” Fernandes said. “From playing on the streets of Garca, to deciding to be a professional footballer at 12 to the amazing free-kick against France and winning the World Cup, he has shown that when he wants something, he will see it through to the end.
“We couldn’t be more proud to have such a fighter in our roster of world champion brand ambassadors.”
Carlos was an integral part of the Brazilian squad who lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2002, when they outclassed Germany 2-0 in the final. As a member of Real Madrid’s first Galacticos era under president Florentino Perez, he helped Los Blancos win four La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns between 1997 and 2007.
