After Brazil’s 2022 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Croatia, forward Richarlison struggled with depression and thought about quitting football.
Tottenham Hotspur star Richarlison announced in September that he would seek psychological help following a photo of him crying on the bench after being replaced during Brazil’s 5-1 beating of Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
The 26-year-old, who has 48 caps for Brazil, has encouraged players to get mental health treatment.
In a chat with ESPN Brasil, He said, “I’d just played in a World Cup, at my peak. I was reaching my limit, you know? I don’t know, I’m not going to talk about killing myself, but I was in a depression there, and I wanted to give up. Even I, who seemed to be mentally strong. After the World Cup, it seemed like it all fell apart.”
He added, “Before I went to training, I wanted to go home, I wanted to go back to my room because I don’t know what was going through my head. I even went and told my dad I was going to give up. It’s kind of sad to talk like that. What I went through after the World Cup … To go to my father, who was the guy who chased my dream with me, and say, ‘Dad, I want to give up’, is crazy.”
He stated that undergoing treatment was the finest choice he had ever made. “I think the therapist, like it or not, saved me, saved my life. I only thought rubbish … If you need a psychologist, look for one because it’s nice for you to open up like that, for you to be talking to the person.”
