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Tottenham star Richarlison has opened up on his mental health struggles after Brazil’s exit from World Cup 2022.
Richarlison has spoken out about suffering with depression following Brazil’s exit from the quarter-final stage of the 2022 World Cup. The Tottenham star, who has already revealed how therapy has helped him enormously, says he reached a point where he wanted to give up football before reaching out for help with his mental health problems.
He told ESPN Brasil: “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.
“I had this prejudice before, I thought it was nonsense, I thought I was crazy. In my family, there are people who think that anyone who goes to a psychologist thinks they are crazy, they think they are insane. But I discovered this and thought it was wonderful. The best thing, really the best discovery I’ve ever had in my life.”
There was plenty of pressure on Richarlison’s shoulders at the World Cup, with the forward handed the iconic No. 9 shirt at the tournament in Qatar. He ended up scoring three goals in four games as the Selecao went out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage following defeat to Croatia.
Brazil have recently confirmed the appointment of a squad psychologist, with Richarlison welcoming the move to bring in Marisa Lucia Santiago as part of Dorival Junior’s team. Richarlison was part of the latest Brazil squad but was an unused substitute in the win over England and draw with Spain and will now return to club side Tottenham.
