Richarlison considered quitting football during post-World Cup depression
The forward from Brazil, Richarlison, has shared that he had to deal with depression after his team lost to Croatia in the quarter-final match of the 2022 World Cup, and even contemplated giving up football.
In September, Richarlison, a member of Tottenham's team, shared that he would be reaching out for psychological support. This decision came after he was photographed crying whilst sitting on the bench after being substituted during Brazil's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, which resulted in a 5-1 loss. As a player who has represented Brazil 48 times, Richarlison has encouraged other athletes to also prioritize their mental health and seek assistance when needed.
Richarlison shared with ESPN Brasil that he had participated in a World Cup when he was at his best. He felt like he was pushing himself to his limit. Although he didn’t want to talk about it, he experienced depression and had thoughts of giving up. It surprised him because he always thought he had a strong mentality. Unfortunately, things just seemed to fall apart for him after the World Cup.
When Richarlison first joined Spurs from Everton in 2022, he had a difficult start. However, he has managed to score 11 goals in 26 games this season. He admits that he had a tough time dealing with his thoughts before training sessions and often wanted to go back to his room. He even spoke to his dad about potentially giving up on his football dream.
It's a bit disheartening to speak this way. The experiences I had after the World Cup were tough. Telling my father, the man who supported me in pursuing my dream, that I wanted to quit was insane.
He expressed that attending therapy was the most beneficial choice he has ever made. Richarlison stated that his therapist rescued and safeguarded him. Prior to therapy, his thoughts were negative and unproductive. He further advised individuals to seek a psychologist if necessary as it provides an outlet for opening up and speaking with someone.
If you're in the UK or Ireland and need someone to talk to, you can get in touch with Samaritans for free by dialing 116 123 or emailing [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, there's the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which you can call or text at 988, chat with on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to talk to a crisis counselor. Meanwhile, the crisis support service Lifeline can be reached at 13 11 14 if you're in Australia. For other international helplines, you can visit befrienders.org.
