Jonatan Cristaldo and His Fight for Life

The world of football can be exciting, full of achievements and applause, but behind the cameras, reality can be very different. Argentinian striker Jonatan “Churry” Cristaldo, who has already played for Palmeiras, opened up and shared a painful part of his story.

The Surprising Revelation

Cristaldo revealed that he has already gone through moments so difficult that he considered ending his own life. What saved him? An unexpected call from his therapist. He didn’t specify when it happened, but he shared that the conversation made him rethink the situation.

“My therapist saved my life. I couldn’t handle the pain and suffering anymore. That’s when my phone rang and it was her. I answered while crying and told her what I was going to do.” - Cristaldo, in an interview with TyC Sports.

Currently without a club, Cristaldo also talked about his challenges with alcoholism, which began when he turned 18 years old. What once was an escape for him is now part of the past.

“I don’t drink anymore. I didn’t like it. Until I was 18 years old, I hadn’t tried it. I drank to get drunk and sleep—that was my escape.” - Cristaldo.

Depression and Loneliness in Football

Talking about depression isn’t easy, and Cristaldo did it with honesty. For him, even victories and goals weren’t enough to ease the pain he felt.

“Everything was very temporary for me. I was champion with Racing [in 2019], I was happy that night and, when I got up the next day, I was sad. The money didn’t fill that space. When I played in Bolivia, I was far from my kids. I scored many goals in Bolivia, but I didn’t have my children. I cried every day.” - Cristaldo.

It’s hard to imagine that behind the achievements there was a broken heart and a suffering mind.

A Dream Beyond Football

Interestingly, Cristaldo never dreamed of being a football player. What did he truly want? To provide a better life for his family.

“My dream was never to be a football player. My dream was to be able to give my family a better place to live. That’s why, when I managed to reach that goal, I said: ‘there it is.’ That’s also why I lost control.” - Cristaldo.

Career and Club Stints

Cristaldo was a true talismán during his time at Palmeiras between 2014 and 2016, totaling 73 matches and 18 goals. After that, he wore the shirts of two more Brazilian clubs: São Bernardo and Rio Branco-PR. However, his stint at São Bernardo was brief, with just four matches, and the following year, at Rio Branco, he played six times without scoring.

If You Need Help...

If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, it’s essential to seek help. There are resources available, such as the CVV (Centro de Valorização da Vida), which offers support 24 hours a day.

• CVV: Visit cvv.org.br or call 188. They are ready to help.
• In addition, don’t forget to look for the CAPS (Centros de Atenção Psicossocial) in your city.

Mental health is as important as physical health, and there is always hope and support available.