Samuel Umtiti, a key defender in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, has opened up about the severe mental health toll he suffered after the tournament. He described going from the ’mountain of a World Cup to the very bottom,’ battling loneliness and bouts of depression that left him rarely leaving his house. This downward spiral began as he struggled with a chronic knee injury, a problem he initially played through to compete in the World Cup.
Umtiti revealed that public perception deeply wounded him, as fans criticized a perceived lack of effort to return to fitness for Barcelona. He insisted he was training multiple times daily, adhering to intense rehabilitation programs, and had no social life, yet his knee remained persistently swollen. The defender felt misunderstood, emphasizing that his motivation was always to play football, not financial gain, and the termination of his contract in 2023 marked a low point in his career.
After unsuccessful loan spells and a final season with Lille, Umtiti announced his retirement from football in September. His story is featured in a new documentary alongside former French teammates, where they collectively share their personal and professional struggles, highlighting the often-hidden psychological challenges faced by elite athletes.
