Brazilian football legend Ronaldo says he experienced severe depression after retiring from professional football, describing the emotional effect as feeling “like someone close to you has died.” In the accounts published by the outlets, Ronaldo links the period after his playing career to significant personal difficulties, including weight gain. The reports state that he is speaking openly about how retirement affected his mental health and daily life, suggesting that the transition away from football contributed to his decline. The articles present his comments as a direct personal account rather than a report of newly verified external events. Both sources emphasize the same key elements of what Ronaldo disclosed: that he faced severe depression and that he gained a lot of weight during that time. The coverage does not provide additional specific details such as dates, treatment, or whether he sought particular forms of therapy, focusing instead on his overall message about mental health struggles following his retirement.