Brazil and Tottenham forward Richarlison spoke about his struggle with depression after the Qatar World Cup. The 26-year-old admitted to experiencing dark thoughts and feeling like giving up following the 2022 tournament.
He told ESPN: "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, you know? What I went through after the World Cup, discovering things here at home from people who had lived with me for over seven years ... It is crazy.
"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."
The Spurs striker continued: "I'd just played in a World Cup, man, 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."
"I think the therapist, like it or not, saved me, saved my life. I only thought rubbish... Even on Google, I only searched for rubbish, I only wanted to see rubbish about death."
"Today I can say, look for a psychologist, 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."
"Today a [psychologist] came to thank me for taking this to the world of football, to the world, outside the pitch too because it is very important and, whether we like it or not, it saves lives."
