Brazil: a Love Story of Richarlison
Via The Players' Tribune
Summary
In a first-person essay published on The Players' Tribune in June 2023, Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison wrote candidly about his deeply personal relationship with the Brazilian national team. He described the emotional devastation of Brazil's quarterfinal exit to Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the mental health struggles he endured in the months that followed. His famous bicycle-kick goal against Serbia — voted Goal of the Tournament — was a high point in an otherwise painful campaign.
Richarlison recounted how, despite the pain of elimination, his love for the Seleção never wavered. The piece explored his journey from a impoverished upbringing in Brazil to the top of European football, and was notable for its emotional openness on anxiety, media criticism, and his determination to fight for his place in the squad ahead of future tournaments.
