After joining Bayern Munich in 2019, Benjamin Pavard suffered with depression during the COVID-19 lockdowns the following year. He has now opened up about the experience in an interview.
The former Lille and Stuttgart right-back was one of the breakthrough stars of the World Cup in Russia four years ago as he started and completed 90 minutes in six out of seven possible matches for France at the tournament.
Pavard also scored one of the most memorable goals of the competition, a volley from outside the box against Lionel Messi's Argentina in the round 16 that helped Les Blues advance to the quarter-finals.
A year on from his success in Russia, the fullback completed a move to Bayern, before COVID-19 disrupted his debut campaign with the Bavarians.
The 26-year-old has now revealed that he struggled to cope living alone in Munich during the pandemic, and that he knew he needed help when he could not get any joy from training.
"In my head, things weren't right," he told French newspaper Le Parisien.
"At the start, you say it's nothing, that it will pass, but when you see that it persists, and then you go to training and you don't have a smile on your face, you have to react.
"Like everyone else, I'm human, and even if I have a beautiful house with a gym, I needed human contact.
"I woke up in the mornings, I didn't have an appetite. I tried to take care of myself, to cook, to watch TV series. I don't like the word depression, but it was that.
"I hid it from everyone but today I feel a lot better. I came out of it all a better man. It changed me."
Pavard has made 127 appearances for Bayern since his arrival at the Allianz Arena three years ago, contributing to 18 goals and winning 10 trophies along the way.
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