Brazilian soccer star Roberto Carlos [Images] was giving a radio interview on his cellular phone on Friday when he said armed robbers approached the car in which he was traveling and robbed the driver.

"They just robbed my car, they just robbed my car," said the Real Madrid [Images] leftback and Brazilian international, breaking out in nervous laughter.

Roberto Carlos was visiting the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte in Brazil [Images] when he said he was mugged.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

The player was traveling with a local journalist, a girlfriend and an unarmed bodyguard. The journalist, who was driving the car, had to give up his ring and cellular phone.

Two assailants on a motorcycle stopped next to Roberto Carlos' car in dense traffic. One of them, armed with a pistol, knocked on the car window and took the driver's belongings. During the interview, the knocking could be heard and then somebody talking loudly.

Street crime is rampant in Brazil, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world and is one of the countries with the most deaths from firearms.

After a bout of nervous laughter, Roberto Carlos told the driver: "Don't stop so close to the car in front of you. Don't stop so close."

When asked by a radio presenter to comment on the problem of violence that plagues big Brazilian cities, Roberto Carlos attributed it mainly to social woes.

"It happens everywhere. It is a problem in our country because many people are out of work. But anyhow, I miss my country a lot and will keep coming," he said.

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