Richarlison says he had dark thoughts after 2022 World Cup،
Brazil and Tottenham striker Richarlison says he suffers from troubling thoughts and is ready to “give up” as he battles depression following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Richarlison said he sought psychological help after the tournament, saying it was “the best discovery I've ever made in my life.”
“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 mind,” Richarlison told ESPN Brasil. “I even went to tell my father that I was going to give up.
“It's a bit sad to talk like that, you know? What I experienced after the World Cup, discovering things here at home thanks to people who had lived with me for over seven years… 'crazy.
“To go to my dad, who was the guy who chased my dream with me, and say, ‘Dad, I want to give up,’ it’s crazy.”
Richarlison, 26, finished Brazil's top scorer in Qatar with three goals in four games, although the country exited in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia.
Brazil's elimination in the World Cup quarter-finals was a blow to Richarlison, who said shortly after the tournament that it was “worse than losing a family member” and described the enormous pressure linked to wearing the number 9 jersey of Brazil.
In September 2023, Richarlison spoke of a “hectic time off the field” after he was seen crying on the bench after being substituted in Brazil's 5–1 win over Bolivia.
One of the issues that concerned him was that he had parted ways with his long-time agent Renato Velasco, apparently due to a financial dispute over the theft of money.
“I had just played a World Cup, man, at my peak,” Richarlison continued. “I was reaching my limits, you know? I don’t know, I’m not going to talk about suicide, but I was depressed there, and I wanted to give up.
“Even me, who seemed to be mentally strong. After the World Cup, everything seemed to fall apart.
“I think the therapist, like it or not, saved me, saved my life. I was only thinking bullshit… Even on Google, I was only looking for bullshit, I just wanted see bullshit about death.
“Today I can say, look for a psychologist, if you need a psychologist, look for one because it's good for you to open up like that, to talk to the person. Today, A [psychologist] came to thank me for taking this into the world of football, into the world, even off the field, because it is very important and, whether we like it or not, it saves lives.
“I had this prejudice before, I thought it was absurd, 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 crazy. crazy. But I discovered this. and I thought it was wonderful. The best thing, really the best discovery I ever had in my life.”
The striker completed a £60 million ($75.7 million) move from Everton to Spurs in July 2022.
Richarlison has won 48 caps for Brazil, although he was an unused substitute in their two matches this international window, against England on Saturday and Spain on Tuesday.
