Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo was sent off in the Champions League match against Chelsea two weeks ago, a red card just before halftime that led to Barcelona’s collapse and a 3-0 defeat. For Araujo, the club’s vice captain, it was not the first time he felt he had let his teammates down.
In the Champions League quarterfinals in April 2024, Barcelona had already beaten Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 in France and hosted the return leg. The team even took a 1-0 lead, but then Araujo was shown a red card. Barcelona fell apart, conceded four goals and was eliminated. Last season, in the second leg of the semifinals, another costly mistake by Araujo, three minutes into stoppage time, allowed Inter Milan to equalize, complete a wild comeback in extra time and knock Barcelona out again.
Ronald Araujo arrives in Israel
The dismissal against Chelsea was less severe in context. It came during the league phase of the Champions League and did not directly lead to Barcelona being knocked out. Still, that moment appears to have broken the Uruguay international. He was left out of the next match, then given unlimited time off with full backing from Barcelona’s management and coaching staff.
On Tuesday it emerged that his place of refuge is Israel. Araujo landed at Ben Gurion Airport after receiving the club’s approval to travel to the Holy Land. A devout believer, he plans to visit churches and Christian holy sites. Perhaps, those close to him hope, the trip will help him step away from the crushing pressure he has been under and find some calm.
What exactly happened to Araujo remains unclear. Catalan media have reported that he is dealing with depression accompanied by severe anxiety attacks, repeated feelings that he has disappointed his teammates, and a deep fear of relentless attacks from the media and especially fans on social networks. He needed a break. There are rumors that his condition is so serious that there is no chance he will return to play for a competitive and demanding Barcelona, surrounded by intense pressure and exposure. In fact, it is not even clear whether he will be able to play soccer at all.
Soccer can be a fertile ground for mental health problems. Careers are short. Fear of injury can be paralyzing. Players fight for a place in the lineup. Contracts expire. They work under the microscope of millions who follow them and pin hopes on them to deliver joy and a 90 minute escape from reality. Fame brings a price, living in public while also being painfully alone. The pressure to prove yourself again and again never stops.
And even if those stressors were not enough, soccer is not a world where it is easy to talk about feelings, anxiety or depression. Fans do not want to hear it. You earn unimaginable sums, have the most beautiful partners, luxury cars and homes, a body like a Greek god, publicity and fame. What is there to complain about. Inside clubs, it is treated as taboo. Soccer, perhaps more than other sports, is macho and built on the rule that you must not show weakness.
Still, many players, including global stars, have experienced mental health problems, even if most spoke about them only after their careers ended or near retirement. Adriano struggled mentally, largely after his father’s death. Andres Iniesta and Gianluigi Buffon said they suffered depression and anxiety attacks during their careers. Sebastian Deisler, once one of Germany’s most promising talents, retired at 27 after injuries led to depression. American standout Landon Donovan spoke openly in his prime about the emotional and mental roller coaster of being a player, and criticized the institutional attitudes toward mental health in soccer.
There were also those who could not be saved. England international George Harrison died by suicide in 1939 at age 46. Agostino Di Bartolomei took his own life in 1994 at 39, exactly a decade after Roma lost the European Cup final to Liverpool on penalties. Argentine player Mirko Saric died by suicide in 2000 at 21. Welsh midfielder Gary Speed died by suicide in 2011 at 42. German goalkeeper Robert Enke died by suicide in 2009 at 32, stepping in front of a moving train. All suffered severe depression.
What is certain is that the lifestyle of soccer players and the volatility of their careers often kept them from confronting the demons they lived with. It also blocked treatment that might have eased their lives. Many players describe mental distress after retirement. After a lifetime under the spotlight, showered with love from the stands, surrounded by people who handled their needs and supported by large salaries, they suddenly have to learn to live like ordinary people.
Everyone around Barcelona, from the squad to senior executives and coaches, has shown understanding for Araujo’s situation. Beyond understanding, they have shown generosity in giving him as much time as he needs to heal. Araujo may never be able to return to playing soccer for Barcelona, for Uruguay or anywhere. But he and the club will be remembered for this case. A 26 year old player at the height of his career, in one of the best teams in the world, choosing to speak openly about personal mental health struggles, and a club setting a standard by telling him to take all the time he needs because some things matter more than soccer.