Tottenham and Brazil star Richarlison reveals he ‘searched about death on Google’ and told parents he wanted to ‘give up’ after World Cup last year – and hails psychologist for ‘saving my life’
- Richarlison announced last year that he would seek psychological help at Tottenham
- The Brazilian forward has opened up about his mental health after the World Cup
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Tottenham and Brazil star Richarlison has revealed he suffered from depression after ‘everything fell apart’ following the 2022 World Cup.
Richarlison scored three goals as Brazil’s starting forward at the World Cup in Qatar, with his scissor kick against Serbia in the winning goal of the tournament’s group stage.
The 26 year old admitted in a tearful interview with ESPN Brazil that he suffered from depression in the aftermath of the tournament, which saw the five-time winners eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Richarlison revealed he had told his father he wanted to ‘give up’ amid off-field problems, adding that he had ‘searched for death’ on the internet.
The Tottenham forward announced in September that he would seek ‘psychological help’ after he was seen crying on the bench during an international break with Brazil.
Richarlison has revealed he suffered from depression after the 2022 World Cup
The Brazilian star admitted he told his father he wanted to ‘give up’ amid off-field problems
Richarlison revealed he had ‘searched for death’ on the internet before seeing a psychologist
He claimed that visiting a psychologist helped “save his life.”
“I had just played a World Cup at my peak, man,” Richarlison said. “I reached my limit, you know? I don’t know, I’m not going to talk about committing suicide, but I was in a depression there and I wanted to give up.
“Even me, who seemed mentally strong. After the World Cup it seemed like everything was falling apart.
‘I think that, whether I like it or not, the therapist saved me, saved my life. I just thought nonsense. Even on Google I only searched for nonsense, I only wanted to see nonsense about death.
‘Today I can say: find a psychologist. If you need a psychologist, find one, because it’s nice for you to open up like that, to talk to that person.
“Today a psychologist came to thank me for bringing this to the football world, to the world, also off the field, because it is very important and, whether we like it or not, it saves lives.”
The forward reportedly split from his long-time agent Renato Velasco last year over a reported financial dispute. His agent had supported him from the start of his career.
Richarlison admitted that he had previously been prejudiced against the idea, stating that members of his family thought anyone who visited a psychologist was ‘crazy’.
Richarlison announced in September that he would seek psychological help amid off-field issues
The Tottenham forward said visiting a psychologist was the ‘best discovery’ of his life
Richarlison said visiting a psychologist was the “best discovery I ever had in my life.”
Last week he welcomed the Brazilian Football Federation’s decision to appoint Marisa Lucia Santiago as the national team’s psychologist.
Richarlison has scored 11 goals in 26 appearances for Tottenham this season, with the forward on form following groin surgery in November.
He was an unused substitute in Brazil’s two friendlies during the international break against England and Spain.
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