Sunday, June 12, 2026 - Brazilian football icon, Ronaldo has candidly shared the
deep emotional struggles he faced after stepping away from professional
football, revealing that he fell into a severe depression and experienced
significant weight gain.
The legendary striker brought his illustrious 18-year
playing career to an end in 2011 at the age of 34, leaving behind a legacy that
included two World Cup triumphs in 1994 and 2002, finishing as the top scorer
with eight goals in the latter tournament.
Despite achieving immense global success on the pitch, the
sudden transition to everyday life left a profound void that heavily impacted
his personal life and well-being.
“When you
decide to leave the game, it feels like someone close to you has died,” the
iconic forward shared during an appearance on the Futebol Legends Talks
podcast.
“I
suffered from severe depression,I gained a lot of weight. It was very difficult
to leave football.”
The two-time Ballon d'Or recipient explained that the sudden
absence of the sport and the loss of his identity as a competitor took a
massive toll on his mental health.
“The idea of
not playing anymore was devastating,” he confessed.
While navigating the painful transition required substantial
time, the former superstar eventually discovered new avenues to channel his
energy and find purpose outside of the stadium walls.
“Then you
realise there are other things in life that you can do, you can reinvent
yourself, but the idea of not competing stayed with me for a long time,” he
added.
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