Spain's World Cup hero Ferran Torres battled depression and lost the will to live
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Ferran Torres, who scored Spain's historic World Cup final goal, battled severe depression and contemplated quitting football.
- He described losing the will to live during his darkest periods, exacerbated by intense media pressure and performance slumps.
- Torres has spoken openly about his mental health struggles, finding resilience through personal mottos and support.
Ferran Torres, the scorer of Spain's historic World Cup final goal, has revealed the profound personal battles he faced, including severe depression and thoughts of retiring from professional football. The 26-year-old midfielder described periods where he "lost the will to live," particularly during a challenging phase between 2022 and 2023. This dark period was intensified by the immense media pressure following his high-value transfer to Barcelona and a subsequent dip in performance. Torres confessed that Sunday nights often involved uncontrollable crying sessions, painting a stark picture of his mental anguish. He found solace and strength in personal mottos like "I refuse to sink" and "You try, you fail, you get up," alongside support systems that helped him navigate this difficult chapter. His journey highlights the intense pressures faced by elite athletes and the critical importance of mental health awareness.
When I was struggling with depression, the best moment of the day was when I took my pills and went to bed. I lost the will to live.
Originally published by La Naciรณn in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.