Richarlison exclusive: "Now I know the weight that Ronaldo carried"

Just over a month ago, in a men's football World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Bolivia, striker Richarlison.was substituted by Seleção coach Fernando Diniz in the 71st minute. TV cameras picked up the 26-year-old, who moments earlier had missed a golden opportunity to score, breaking down on the Brazilian bench in tears.

It was a stunning moment that revealed how professional athletes are not immune to the stress and pressure that many people around the world experience on a daily basis. A few days later, Richarlison did find the back of the net in another World Cup qualifier against Peru, though it was chalked off for offside (Brazil would end up winning 1-0; they also beat Bolivia 5-1). Following the game, Richarlison, who had endured a difficult start to the season with Tottenham in the English Premier League (failing to score or provide an assist in four games), told reporters that he planned to return to England and work with a therapist.

Since the game against Peru on 13 September, Richarlison has scored one goal and picked up two assists for Spurs in three games as he has helped the Lilywhites climb to the top of the Premier League table. With today (10 October) being World Mental Health Day - an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma - Olympics.com brings you an exclusive interview with Richarlison, in which the former Fluminese marksman opens up on his journey in football journey, including how he has had to cope with negative comments throughout his career.

Richarlison: "I've seen many people lose themselves"

Richarlison - or Richarlison de Andrade, to use his full name - grew up in the southeastern Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, joining América Mineiro's youth football program in December 2014 after previously spending time at Real Noroeste. The young striker had been close to giving up on a career in football, having been rejected by numerous clubs before securing a trial with América Mineiro. Richarlison spent all of his money on a 600-kilometre one-way ticket to Belo Horizonte in the knowledge that if he didn't make the team, he had no way of getting home. Needless to say, he impressed the coaching staff and secured his spot in the squad; six months later, he was promoted to the first team.

The full story is one of perseverance and sacrifice, and while Richalrlison has made it to the big time, he knows of plenty of others who could have done the same, had they made better choices.

"You have to know how to deal with negative comments, and positive ones too, so as not to let it all go to your head," the 26-year-old says. "I remember playing with the Under-17s at América [Mineiro], and there were plenty of guys who were ahead of me who could have become professionals. But they got lost along the way, due to keeping bad company or because they thought they were bigger than they were."

"Now I know the weight that Ronaldo carried"

The number '9' shirt holds a special place in football. It is almost always worn by centre forwards (also called strikers), who hold the most advanced offensive position on the pitch and therefore typically score the most goals on a team.

The Seleção have had many famous number 9s over the years, including Careca, 1970 World Cup winner Tostao, and of course two-time World Cup winner and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima: better known as Ronaldo.

Richarlison was first given the honour of wearing the storied shirt for Brazil in 2018 and is keenly aware of the expectation that comes with it.

"I'm very proud to be wearing the number 9 shirt, especially during the World Cup," Richarlison says. The forward, who goes by the nickname "Pombo" - a Portuguese word for pigeon - scored three goals in four games at the 2022 World Cup, where Brazil were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

"Now I know the weight that Ronaldo carried, and that other great players who wore the shirt carried. Because when you wear the number nine, you're expected to score goals, right? You have to be prepared for that because the pressure is huge.

"Every time you play, you have to do your best, you have to try and score, because it's a heavy shirt to wear, just like the number 10 shirt."

The number 10 shirt Richarlison references has been worn by other Brazilian icons and footballing legends such as Kaka, Ronaldinho, and three-time World Cup winner Pele, but also by Richarlison himself during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021. The 1.84m forward scored five goals in six games to finish as the tournament's top scorer and help Brazil win the gold medal.

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"I want to be an idol for Brazilian fans"

Richarlison has been celebrated for his extensive charity work and activism; according to news outlet Mundo Deportivo, Richarlison donates 10% of his income from Tottenham to cancer patients, for whom he provides free housing. He also donated oxygen cylinders to the Amazon city of Manaus during Brazil's coronavirus emergency and provided hundreds of food parcels to poor communities throughout the country. The star also uses his platform to regularly address several global issues, including racism, poverty, police brutality, LGBTQ+ rights, gender-based violence, and environmental issues.

"I want to be remembered as an idol, as someone who honoured the national team's jersey," he says. "A person who was outstanding off the field, always willing to help people. I want to be an idol for Brazilian fans."