It was devastating – Brazil legend Ronaldo reveals he suffered ‘severe depression’ and ‘gained a lot of weight’ after retiring
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.