Gaël Kakuta warns that 99.9% of footballers hide deep sadness

In a candid Capté interview, 35‑year‑old former professional Gaël Kakuta, who retired in early July, declared that 99.9 % of footballers are “sad”, carrying heavy burdens and masking their true feelings, a view he illustrated while recalling his own struggle after his mother’s death.

A photo captured Kakuta wearing the Amiens kit on 17 May 2024, underscoring his recent connection to the club. The image, labelled as an Icon in the original release, was displayed alongside the interview.

“I would say that 99.9 % of footballers are sad in the sense that they already carry a very heavy burden. There are very big responsibilities on them. Nobody cares how they really feel,” Kakuta said.

“You are in a world where you have to be performant. But at some point, the person inside you, you don’t know who is around either. You don’t know who is there, why. Your relationships, you don’t know if they are real,” he added.

“Kakuta explained that footballers wear masks, feeling they are seen as ‘meat’ in the industry: ‘Are they really seen? Are they really listened to?’”

“It’s good to pretend to be happy but at night, do you sleep? Some are forced to take products,” he continued. “It’s not fatigue.”

Kakuta joined Chelsea in 2007 at the age of 16 and turned professional with the Blues. In France he later played for Dijon, Amiens and RC Lens. He ended his career after the World Cup, where RD Congo was eliminated by England in the round of 16.

“En regardant en arrière, I realize my biggest victory is not measured in trophies, stats or recognition. The biggest victory of my life was meeting Jesus Christ,” Kakuta said as he hung up. “He taught me that my identity does not depend on my performances, that my value does not limit to a football pitch and that hope never stops at the final whistle.”