Tottenham Hotspur star Richarlison has revealed he contemplated crashing his car into a wall while battling depression. The forward was hugely affected by the intense pressure following Brazil's elimination at the 2022 World Cup.
On the surface, the World Cup appeared to be a successful tournament for the 28-year-old, whose bicycle kick against Serbia claimed the goal of the tournament award. The Spurs forward had been entrusted with leading the attack for the five-time World Cup champions. He scored three goals in total but was unable to prevent his country from exiting the competition in a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in the quarter-finals. The disappointment severely impacted his mental well-being, and Richarlison has candidly shared how his thoughts began to spiral.
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"One day, while driving, I thought about crashing into a wall," Richarlison told France Football. "Today, when I think about it, I tell myself it's pointless."
He continued: "After the 2022 World Cup, I fell into a depression. Every possible misfortune befell me: the elimination, my agent's betrayal, family problems, physical setbacks... For a year and a half, I suffered blow after blow every single day."
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Having joined Spurs from Everton in the summer of 2022, the striker ended his debut campaign with merely one league goal. However, through sessions with a psychologist, Richarlison regained a more positive perspective.
"It was the first time I had to deal with so many problems," he explained. "In all that chaos, I met an honest lawyer who put my affairs and assets in order. I worked with a psychologist and, most importantly, I met my wife."
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As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, the former Everton favourite intends to follow Manchester United midfielder Casemiro's advice and steer clear of social media should he earn a place in Carlo Ancelotti's squad. Yet this is not the first time that Richarlison has offered a glimpse into his battle with depression.
In March 2024, during an emotional interview with ESPN Brasil, the Spurs striker said: "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."
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He continued: "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.
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"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.
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"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."