Spain just won the FIFA World Cup following a grueling match against Argentina. And it was all thanks to Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute, capping off a dramatic extra-time thriller. Now, he’s being hailed as the hero of Spain‘s triumph—but just four years ago, he found himself in the biggest career rut of his life.
In 2022, the Spanish forward was grappling with a mental health crisis; the then-21-year-old had hit rock bottom after his €55 million ($62.8 million) move from Manchester City to La Liga club Barcelona. Torres was struggling to handle the pressure that came with his talent’s high price tag, just as he was recovering from a preseason leg injury and crushing Europa League loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.
“I found myself in a bottomless pit, and I could not see a way out,” Torres told reporters in 2023. “It had never happened to me before. That was the moment when I decided to work with a psychologist.
“I lost my confidence. Everything was affecting me,” he continued. “Seeing [a psychologist] will become increasingly normalised in football. There are weeks when I don’t go and others when I go three times. We don’t always talk about football, we also talk about my private life.”
Torres credits therapy as “one of the best experiences” and making him stronger as a person. And his story can resonate with many; behind the trophies and multimillion-dollar contracts, many sports stars are fighting battles that most fans never see. As many as 51% of elite athletes struggle with mental health problems at some point in their lives, according to a 2020 study. Most commonly, they’re up against struggles like depression and anxiety, and may put off seeking help due to social stigma.
But the 26-year-old’s multimillion-dollar sports career and World Cup title is proof that prioritizing mental health doesn’t derail greatness—it can help unlock it.
Now Torres is a World Cup champion earning millions every year
Torres’ rise has been a story of early ambition turned into global success, with the young forward quickly becoming one of soccer’s most recognizable stars.
Born in the small coastal town of Foios, Spain (right outside of Valencia), Torres was destined for the world stage from an early age. At just six years old, he joined Valencia CF’s academy and made his professional debut at 17. After gaining a reputation as one of Spain’s top emerging talents, he signed with Manchester City in 2020, winning both the Premier League and League Cup.
Barcelona then paid millions to the English team to bring him back to Spain in 2022, and his high-profile transfer was followed by injuries, intense pressure, and a crisis of confidence.
Torres eventually rediscovered his spark thanks to his therapist, becoming a key contributor for both Barcelona and Spain. He went on to win multiple domestic trophies, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. And what is sure to be one of the highlights of his soccer career, Torres scored the winning goal for his country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Gen Z footballer has also been raking in million-dollar contracts since his twenties. In 2020, Torres signed a five-year, $12 million contract transferring from Valencia to Manchester City. He spent several years on the English team before then making his return to Spain in 2022, signing a five-year deal with Barcelona for an initial €55 million ($62.8 million), with another €10 million ($11.4 million) in add-ons.
Estimates put Torres’ current base salary between $6.3 million to $10 million per year—or around $120,700 to $192,000 every week. It’s also reported that his sizable paycheck comes with at least another €3 million ($3.4 million) in bonuses every year; and off the pitch, he’s landed brand deals and partnerships with Under Armour.
The post Spain’s Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the World Cup—but just four years ago, he was in therapy and stuck in a ‘bottomless pit’ appeared first on Fortune.
