Ronaldo Reveals How Retirement Led to Severe Depression and Weight Gain
Brazilian icon Ronaldo has opened up about the emotional struggles he faced after retiring from football in 2011 at age 34. He admits he fell into severe depression and gained significant weight when his playing days ended. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner, who starred in Brazil’s World Cup triumphs in 1994 and 2002, described the sudden loss of competition as if ‘someone close to you has died.’ Speaking on a recent sports podcast, Ronaldo said the absence of football took a huge toll on his identity and mental health. He eventually found new passions and learned to reinvent himself off the pitch.
Use The App To Win ₦1m
Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.