Raphinha got emotional during a press conference as he talked about how his son helped him overcome recent "personal and professional issues" that made him think about "giving up" and "leaving football."

"Not too long ago, I thought about quitting everything due to personal and professional problems. I considered giving up, leaving football because I didn't need to go through certain mental issues or endure difficulties and attacks from the media or fans," revealed the FC Barcelona winger in a press conference.

Raphinha spoke to journalists in Orlando, USA, where he is with the Brazilian national team preparing for the Copa América, which starts on June 20th.

The former Leeds United player said he overcame these challenges because now he has "a greater strength," which is his son. "Imagining that one day my son might see me as an inspiration in football, maybe not the best in the world, but as a reference, that means a lot," he explained.

He also emphasized that being able to watch his son grow and have him see him play and "defend great clubs" ultimately pushed him to "not leave football." Another reason he continued was the possibility of "winning titles" with the Brazilian team, which will be aiming for their tenth Copa América starting on June 24th when they debut against Costa Rica in Group D, which also includes Colombia and Paraguay.