Mário Jardel’s powerful confession: “I could be dead by now” | OneFootball

Mário Jardel’s history of dependency is public knowledge, and he has always acknowledged his struggles. The former FC Porto and Sporting striker, now 51 years old, leads a calmer life, staying away from temptations such as drugs and alcohol, which dragged him down at the end of his career and after he left the pitch. The former Brazilian international admits that recovery is an ongoing process, but assures that he is on a positive path.

“It’s like killing a lion every day, no doubt about it. For any addict, it’s a daily battle. I went through some treatments, I recovered, and I’m strong and steady so that more doors can open for me. I’m not ashamed to talk about it; people who know me are aware of the person I am: a good person, who only ever hurt himself,” ‘Super Mário’ began in an interview with ‘Globo Esporte’, where he highlighted the importance of mental health: “I never used drugs when I was playing, and now, with this new life, the change I set out to make, there’s a huge importance [in saying no]. The responsibility of events, being around high-profile people, the games—there will always be someone offering. It’s a daily struggle. Depression comes, problems, the triggers… it all has to be controlled by your mind.”

Currently, Jardel divides his time between church, physical exercise, and some family projects in Fortaleza, and he is preparing to start giving motivational talks. “I lead a very family-oriented life, also because—as a precaution after what I went through—I keep away from many things that used to harm me. Today, I lead a very calm, peaceful life, doing my events outside Brazil and playing friendly matches. I get a lot of invitations, especially since I have bills to pay. I no longer earn a millionaire’s salary, so I try to have a disciplined life with my family, taking care because of everything I’ve been through. After I stopped [playing], I’m now aware that this had to change. And it did,” said the former footballer, concluding: “I have a lot of faith in God; He kept me alive because of my change. Considering all the wrong things I did, I could already be dead, but I’m a blessed guy. Everyone likes me, I don’t hurt anyone. I only ever hurt myself, but today I can raise my hand to the sky with a lot of confidence and discernment that I’m living the life God wants.”

It should be remembered that Jardel was national champion with both FC Porto and Sporting, teams with which he won the European Golden Boot in 1998/99 (36 goals) and 2001/02 (42 goals).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.