Richarlison considered quitting football during post-World Cup depression
Brazil player says going to therapist ‘saved my life’‘I wanted to give up … It seemed like it all fell apart’
The Brazil forward Richarlison has revealed he endured depression after his country’s quarter-final loss to Croatia at the 2022 World Cup and considered quitting football.
Richarlison, who plays for Tottenham, said in September he would seek psychological help after he was photographed crying on the bench when he was substituted during Brazil’s 5-1 thrashing of Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The 26-year-old, capped 48 times, has urged players to seek help for their mental health.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
