adminTottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison has opened up about his mental health struggles, revealing that he once considered driving his car into a wall while battling depression.
The 28-year-old admitted that the intense backlash following Brazil’s quarter-final exit from the 2022 World Cup took a heavy toll on his emotional state.
Although the tournament itself was a personal success—Richarlison scored three goals, including a stunning overhead kick against Serbia that was voted goal of the competition—the defeat to Croatia on penalties left him in a dark place.
“One day, while driving, I thought about crashing into a wall,” he told France Football. “Today, when I think about it, I tell myself it’s pointless.”
He described the period after the World Cup as a descent into 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.”
Richarlison had joined Tottenham from Everton in the summer of 2022, but his debut Premier League season yielded just one goal. He credits therapy, an honest lawyer who helped sort out his affairs, and meeting his wife with helping him regain a healthier mindset.
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, he plans to follow the advice of Manchester United midfielder Casemiro and avoid social media if selected by manager Carlo Ancelotti. This isn’t the first time Richarlison has spoken publicly about his mental health.
In a March 2024 interview with ESPN Brasil, he admitted: “I was reaching my limit… I don’t want to talk about killing myself, but I was depressed and wanted to give up.”
He urged others to seek professional help: “Today I can say, look for a psychologist… it’s very important, and whether we like it or not, it saves lives. I had this prejudice before. I thought it was nonsense. But discovering therapy was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
So far this season, Richarlison has scored 10 goals in 38 appearances for Spurs. His most recent international match for Brazil was in October 2025.
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