Richarlison talks to ESPN about how a psychologist literally saved his life and gets emotional

It was a different night. Rare. Only. Exciting.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 4°C, freezing cold like that in North London.

Cold in the stomach too. After all, it’s not every day that you knock on the door of the number 9 of the team. Brazilian Team on the last world Cup. How will Richarlison talk to us? How are we going to talk to him?

The tension disappeared in an instant. It was with great affection and a wide smile that the Pigeon opened the door of his nest to the team at ESPN.

Here comes the documentaries “Richarlison, the Pombo is Gente”, and “Casemiro, the Father of All”, original ESPN productions, also available on Star+.

Charlinho’s simplicity

“I found out that you came straight here from Brazil, my cousin made coffee. You can eat everything, the crowd is a bit fit here at home now”, he said, inviting us in.

None of the typical local cuisine. In fact, the language is no longer so intimidating. How’s your English, Richarlison? “OK very goodright?” I couldn’t help but laugh.

The abundant table looked like a grandma’s house: cheese bread, coxinha, couscous, scrambled eggs, biscuits, bread, butter, jam, ham, cheese, water, orange juice, coffee. The Pigeon is People. Keep that sentence.

As we arranged the cameras, Richarlison talked about life as if he were surrounded by old acquaintances.

He even showed his cell phone, a true chest full of treasures. Videos of goals and dribbling, photos of relatives, memorable moments and hilarious scenes. For example, the screen displays a photo of a young boy wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sneakers, all white, bought on the same day he received – and spent – ​​R$700, one of his first salaries. No regrets.

Ah, for family and friends, there is no Richarlison. There, he is Charlinho.

From Nova Venécia to the world

The 26-year-old from Espírito Santo changed his life in England, where he has shined since 2016. He met Elton John, who was once owner of Watford, his first club in the country. He is the idol of Evertonscored goals again in the Tottenham. Team number 9 in the last World Cup. Famous, or rather, “a little known”, as he himself said.

But the purity belongs to that Charlinho, the kid who “has already been through a lot of trouble and a little bit of hunger” in his homeland, Nova Venécia. “The favela teaches us how to live, how to value things. Even with few things, we smile, we are happy, we look for a better solution for a better life.”

And to think that, as a teenager, he didn’t fall into the temptation of drugs for an “easier” life. He closed his eyes in fear as he had a gun pointed at his head after being mistaken for a “competitor”, almost a “game over”as he himself said.

But everything had to be different. His father, Antônio, was and is a great supporter of his career and helped Charlinho follow his destiny of changing his life with the ball at his feet. “I thank my father, who always believed in me and never gave up on my dream, because by fulfilling my dream I could help many people.” It was also from his father that he inherited his passion for Vasco.

Richarlison is a different, rare, unique guy.

An open-hearted rant

It only takes a few seconds to realize that Richarlison is always the same, whether on the field, in interviews, on social media, even at home with a TV crew, lights and cameras on.

Words always come from the heart. The gestures are generous. Concern for others and the preservation of the Pantanal drive actions and incentives. This explains why it is the idol of children and teenagers around the planet. After all, how many times have you seen a group of fans imitating the “Pigeon Dance”?

Charlinho conquered the world.

If it were a fairy tale, this text would end like this. The way he talks is funny and it seems like you’re going to laugh at any moment. But even a person with that aura is not protected… And life, relentlessly, knocked Richarlison down.

The number 9 arrived at the 2022 World Cup recovering from injury. On his debut he designed that unforgettable volley, chosen by FIFA as the most beautiful goal of the World Cup. There were two more goals in the competition – another against Serbia and the last one in front of South Korea. But the elimination for the Croatians changed everything.

It left Qatar deeply sad, after all, in addition to wearing the shirt, Richarlison is a fanatical supporter of the team. On treacherous social networks, those who idolized the then “hero” became fierce, excessive critics, sometimes even criminals.

Soon after came disappointment, betrayal, precisely from someone who had lived in his house for more than seven years.

It was too much for him. A lot of things at the same time. Remember, the Pigeon is People. And it was there, in the warmth of his nest, right in front of us, that he opened his heart like he had never done before.

Below is the full emotional and heartbreaking testimony of a human being who found himself on the verge of giving up everything:

“Before I would train like this, like, I already wanted to go home, I wanted to go back to my room because I don’t know, I don’t know what was going through my head… I even told my father that I was going to give up. I got to Go talk to my father that I was going to give up.

It even makes me, like, sad to talk like that, you know? Because… I don’t know, it was… Just me, like, you know… What I went through after the World Cup and discovering things here in the homes of people who lived with me for over seven years… Like , it’s insane…

And going to my father, who was the guy who chased my dream, like that, and saying that, man, dad, I want to give up, it’s crazy.

I had just played in a World Cup, well, at my peak… And I was reaching, like, at my limit, you know… I don’t know, I won’t say if I killed, but, like, I was in a depression there, like, I don’t know, and I wanted to give up… I don’t know…

I was suffering a lot of attacks after the World Cup and together with this personal problem at home, it affected me a lot, like… Soon I, like, seemed like I was mentally strong, you know? After the World Cup it seemed like everything fell apart.

And I say, I gave the recent interview there… I think the psychologist, whether she wanted to or not, saved me, saved me, saved my life because… I just thought nonsense… On Google I just searched for nonsense, that’s all. I wanted to see some deadly nonsense, I don’t know…

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. Today the teacher came to thank me for taking this to the world of football, to the world outside the field too, because it is very important and, whether we like it or not, it saves lives.

I had this prejudice before, I said in the interview that I had this prejudice. I thought it was cool, 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 crazy. But I discovered this and thought it was wonderful. The best thing, the best discovery I’ve ever had in my life.”

Richarlison is truly a different, rare, unique guy. His testimony is yet another lesson in life and rebirth for a player who, not by chance, is an idol for millions of children in Brazil and around the world.

Thanks for everything, Richarlison. For your generosity, for opening the door to your home and your heart, for your life lesson, for your voice, for everything you are and represent. Thanks for helping everyone, once again. The Pigeon, above all, is People.

Seek help

If you have suicidal thoughts, seek specialized help such as the CVV (Center for the Valorization of Life), a free voluntary emotional support and suicide prevention service for all people who want and need to talk, under complete confidentiality and anonymity.

CVV offers service via the website www.cvv.org.br, by telephone 188 (24 hours and free of charge), by chat, email and also in person.

Also seek support at CAPS (Psychosocial Care Centers) and UBS (Basic Health Units) in your city. These are free services to meet anyone’s mental health needs. More information at Dial Saúde, on 136.