Torres’ World Cup winner caps comeback from mental health crisis
Ferran Torres scored Spain’s 106th-minute winner against Argentina after speaking publicly about therapy following a difficult 2022 move to Barcelona.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute as Spain defeated Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup, Fortune reported. The goal made the Barcelona forward central to Spain’s title after a period in which he has said he sought psychological help during the toughest stretch of his career.
Torres, now 26, was 21 when he moved from Manchester City to Barcelona in 2022 in a deal initially worth €55 million, or $62.8 million, according to Fortune. The transfer came as he was dealing with the pressure of a high fee, recovering from a preseason leg injury and processing Barcelona’s Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, Fortune reported.
In 2023, Torres told reporters he had reached a point where he felt trapped and decided to work with a psychologist, according to ESPN. “I found myself in a bottomless pit, and I could not see a way out,” Torres said, as quoted by ESPN. “It had never happened to me before.”
Torres said at the time that his confidence had fallen and that ordinary pressures had begun to affect him, ESPN reported. He also said therapy varied by week, sometimes with no sessions and sometimes with three, and that the conversations were not limited to football.
The forward has credited therapy with strengthening him as a person and described it as “one of the best experiences,” according to Fortune. His comments added to a wider discussion in elite sport about mental health treatment and stigma.
A 2020 study cited by Fortune found that as many as 51% of elite athletes experience mental health problems at some point in their lives. The study identified issues such as depression and anxiety among common challenges for top athletes.
From Valencia to Barcelona and Spain
Torres grew up in Foios, near Valencia, and entered Valencia CF’s academy at age 6, Fortune reported. He made his senior professional debut at 17 before joining Manchester City in 2020.
At City, Torres won the Premier League and League Cup, according to Fortune. Barcelona brought him back to Spain in 2022, a move that placed him under heavier scrutiny as he tried to establish himself at one of Europe’s largest clubs.
Fortune reported that Torres later became an important player for both Barcelona and Spain. His club honors include La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, according to Fortune.
His contracts have also reflected his rise. Fortune reported that Torres signed a five-year, $12 million contract when he transferred from Valencia to Manchester City in 2020. His Barcelona move carried the €55 million initial fee, with another €10 million, or $11.4 million, possible in add-ons, according to Fortune.
Capology estimates Torres’ current base pay at between $6.3 million and $10 million a year, or roughly $120,700 to $192,000 a week, Fortune reported. Fortune also cited reports of at least €3 million, or $3.4 million, in annual bonuses, along with off-field partnerships including an Under Armour deal announced by the company.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.