THIERRY HENRY'S SECRET BATTLE: DEPRESSION CONFESSION

"I struggled with depression throughout my career. To understand this, you have to go back to my childhood. I didn't get love from my family as a child. The first thing my father said when he held me was, 'This baby is going to be an incredible football player.' He was very tough on me and shaped me that way. When I was 13, I scored 6 goals in a game and we won 6-0. But what mattered to me was always what I didn't do, not what I did. I lived thinking I had to please others with my football and the money I earned. Until one day my girlfriend and children started crying for the person I am. That is when you truly feel human."

One of the greatest legends of world football, French striker Thierry Henry, has shared with the public the dark realities lying behind his flawless image on the pitch and his long-lasting psychological war. Stating that he battled deep depression throughout his career full of successes, the former footballer expressed that the foundation of this mental breakdown lay in the lack of affection he experienced from his family during his childhood. According to Henry's statements, his father's overly perfectionist and strict attitude caused him to be raised solely as a "football machine"; despite his massive achievements, he could never attain inner satisfaction. The star's mention that even though he scored six goals in a single match at the age of thirteen, he only focused on his shortcomings, was evaluated as the clearest indicator of the destructive pressure exerted upon him. Admitting that for years he lived only to please those around him with his football, the championships he won, and his financial income, Henry emphasized that he experienced a true epiphany the moment he realized his family loved him just as a human being, not as an icon. This shocking confession has once again brought the mental health issues experienced by professional athletes to the forefront of the sporting agenda.

IMAGE: NEFES