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Why is mental health still a taboo subject in football?
14 Sep 2026 11:30 CDT |
9 min read
News
Even though the majority of professional footballers at the top level are seen as supremely wealthy superstars, they are prone to mental illness just like everyone else and, in some cases, more so because of the scrutiny on every aspect of their lives.
According to the international players' union FIFPro, more than a quarter of professional footballers suffer from depression or anxiety problems.
Research showed that 26 per cent of players reported mental health problems, with that figure rising to 39 per cent among retired players.
One retired player who deals with this every day is Gregory van der Wiel, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax.
When asked by Flashscore why he believes mental health is still a taboo subject in football, he responded:
"In the football world, specific behaviours are expected from you. You have to show up, play your games, and perform. I don't think everybody's personality is naturally made to handle the pressure that comes with it. We all start out loving the game innocently on the streets, but then everything else arrives: the money, the media, the fans.
"As a top player, you earn a lot and live a "cool" life, so you're expected to be an invincible, strong man. Unfortunately, if you admit you're not feeling well, it's seen as a weakness. That's exactly what I try to address. I want to show that I can love fashion, tattoos, and a good lifestyle, but still struggle mentally.
"You don't have to be perfectly fine to be cool. Not feeling well shouldn't be seen as a weakness, and thankfully, things are getting better step by step."
The Dutchman reflected on his own struggles and said he found difficulty recognising his identity after retiring from football.
"It all started seven years ago when I stopped playing football. I began having panic attacks, anxiety, and feeling very bad," he revealed.
"Waking up every day with no routine, no goal, and no games made it very difficult to find my rhythm in a new life. I think all the suppressed emotions from my career were finally coming out.
"I had a lot of difficult years trying to find myself again and figuring out who Gregory van der Wiel is without football. I felt this struggle shouldn't be for nothing. When I started speaking about it on social media, I got a massive response from big players, guys from the Premier League and Real Madrid, saying: 'I know what you mean, I feel the same.'
"That made me realise how important this topic is. I wanted to make this story bigger than myself, and what better way than having conversations with top athletes to show the world how they truly deal with pressure."
Van der Wiel says it is vital that footballers speak out when they are feeling down at the time or risk things blowing up later in life akin to what happened to him.
"It’s different for everyone. For me, it was very difficult to cope," he said when asked about the pressures of the ever-expending football calendar.
"What I did was shut myself off, numb myself out, and try not to feel anything, which obviously isn't a good thing. I hope players start recognising when they are struggling and actively search for help.
"Sometimes asking for help makes it sound like there's something wrong with you, but just having a conversation with a sports psychologist, or simply someone who listens, is crucial. You need to open up about your anger or disappointment = something I didn't do. You might think some players are dealing with pressure perfectly, but behind the scenes they are really suffering.
"You wouldn't expect it just by looking at them from the outside, and that’s the dangerous part."
Van der Wiel had a successful career as a professional footballer, especially during his time with Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain. With Ajax, he won the Eredivisie three times, in 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13. He also won the KNVB Cup twice and the Johan Cruyff Shield once.
After moving to Paris Saint-Germain, van der Wiel won numerous trophies. He won Ligue 1 four times between 2013 and 2016. He also won the Coupe de France twice, the Coupe de la Ligue three times and the Trophée des Champions three times. Later in his career, while playing for Toronto FC, he won the Canadian Championship in 2018.
At international level, Van der Wiel represented the Netherlands and was part of the team that reached the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. The Netherlands lost 1–0 to Spain after extra time, making him a World Cup runner-up.
He has recently started a new podcast, Pressure, which has opened up conversations about mental health.
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