Legendary Italian footballer Roberto Baggio admitted that due to injuries in his career, he was stuck in such agony that he even wanted to die.
Despite extremely severe injuries, R. Baggio had a fantastic career and is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
"When I hung up my boots, I felt as if I had been freed," the Italian told "Corriere dello Sport."
"Physical pain was real suffering and accompanied me throughout my career. In the last years, it was unbearable."
"When I played for 'Brescia,' I could hardly walk for two days after a match. When I came home, I couldn't get out of the car normally, I had to put one foot on the ground and lift the other one up leaning on the door. The next Sunday, I played again. Full of painkillers, but I played."
"I gave everything to football. It may seem like a paradox, but when I finished my career, I felt happy and fulfilled. I couldn't do more. At the 'San Siro' stadium, in my last 'Serie A' match against 'Milan,' the fans repaid me for everything."
Throughout his career, there was essentially no period when R. Baggio did not suffer from injuries. He experienced his first serious knee injury while representing the 'Vicenza' club in 1985, at the age of 18.
"That was my 'introduction' to football. I could have my nose broken when people called me a phenomenal talent, but injuries brought me back to earth. I put my foot wrong and 'left' my meniscus and cruciate ligaments on that pitch."
"Doctors looked at my knee, shook their heads and said that I would probably never play football again. Altogether, I had six knee surgeries, four on my right knee and two on my left knee."
"At that time, a meniscus injury was tragic for a career, but now it's almost a routine operation. It was a very difficult operation, but I never stopped looking for light at the end of the tunnel."
"The operation in France (in 1986 - ed. note) was the worst. They had to drill a hole in my calf bone to strengthen the tendons that had been torn. I couldn't take anti-inflammatory drugs because I was allergic to them."
"They stitched up 220 internal stitches. I was in agony. I even told my mother: 'if you love me, kill me.' It was despair for a boy who saw his dream of life slipping away, although he had already touched it with his fingertips."
"Two weeks after the operation, I lost about 12 kilograms. I didn't eat the whole time, just cried because of emotional and physical pain."
"I would lie if I said I never thought of giving it all up. There were very, very dark moments, but I always reacted to them. I told myself that I had to move on and defy fate. I wanted to prove that I was stronger than my bad luck and that a dream is worth more than my journey."
"Football has always been my passion. When I was little, I would take a ball everywhere, even going into the bathtub. I had a dream to play in the World Cup final against Brazil. I am one of those people who managed to achieve their dream."
"I suffered, cried, and was afraid, but that day came."
"Which moment in your career was the happiest? To be honest, I can't answer. Injuries taught me that every happy moment can be quickly wiped away, so I just learned to think that the next day would be better than the last."
"I think my best goal was when I beat the 'Atalanta' goalkeeper playing for 'Brescia.' Or the shot against 'Roma,' also playing for 'Brescia'."
"Carlo Mazzone (coach of 'Brescia' from 2000-03 - ed. note) gave me a lot. He still believed in me, gave me a chance to play another four years, which were full of meaning. He is clearly speaking, sincere person in a world full of liars, opportunists, and phonies."
"I fondly remember all the teams I played for, but the club I support is 'Boca Juniors'."
Buddhism also helped R. Baggio during dark periods.
"I come from a Catholic family, but in Florence, a friend practicing Buddhism invited me. At first, I was skeptical, but I quickly realized that this was my path."
"I realized that when everything goes wrong, people tend to blame others and consider themselves victims. I was wrong to think that way. There is no point in justifying when you cannot achieve your goals and desires. It is a waste of time. Your fate is always in your hands."
