Ronaldo opens up on mental health in football: I've been in psychological therapy for two and a half years

There is always something to learn about geniuses, and Ronaldo Nazario was a genius like few others.

In 'The Phenomenon: the rise, fall and redemption of Ronaldo' on DAZN, the Brazilian addresses a lot of soccer and also mental health.

Ronaldo spoke to MARCA about the mental health problems he has had to battle.

Question: In the documentary you talk about mental health with your friend Roberto Carlos. Did you ever have depression?

Answer: "Yes, today I am in therapy. I have been in therapy for two and a half years and I understand myself much better than before.

"But then again, I'm from a generation in which you were thrown into the arena and you had to do your best without the slightest hint of drama. I look back and I see that yes, we were exposed to a very very big mental strain and without any preparation for it.

"Also because it was the beginning of the internet era, with the speed at which information travels. At that time there was no concern about the mental health of the players. Today players are much better prepared, they are given the medical attention they need to face the day to day, and players are studied more: the profiles of each player, how they react, how they should react....

"In my time there was none of that, unfortunately, because we have known all our lives that soccer can cause a lot of stress and be very decisive for the rest of our lives."

Did you talk about it with someone or was it 'not possible' in the locker room?

"The reality is that we didn't even know this kind of problem existed. It was absolutely ignored among our generation.

"Many, obviously, have gone through terrible times, even depression, because of the lack of privacy, the lack of freedom.... It is true that the problems were very obvious, but the solutions were not very available."

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