Brazil: a Love Story of Richarlison

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.

Richarlison's June 2023 essay promised honesty about pain, and the seasons since have tested every word of it. Months after writing that he was suffering from love for Brazil, he announced pelvic surgery after eight months of hurt BBC Sport, then said seeking psychological help saved his life at what he called rock bottom BBC Sport. Goals returned: five in his previous 48 Tottenham appearances preceded a December 2023 brace against Newcastle, and nine came in the following 13 games. Brazil still left him out of the 2024 Copa America the Guardian and out of Ancelotti's 2026 World Cup squad, which topped its group without him. Watch whether the manager recalls him for the next squad.