5 Football players who had to retire prematurely due to health problems

#5 Mario de Castro

Mario de Crasto was one of the famous Brazilian forwards of the 1920s

When we talk about health issues we often tend to forget the fact that mental illness takes its toll on a player as much as a physical illness. Mario de Castro is a testament to his very fact.

Mario was one of the most clinical goal scorers in the history of world football. An intellectual, Castro was studying medicine when he first started playing football for Atletico Mineiro. De Castro formed a lethal combination with Said and Jairo and the menacing front three were known as ‘Trio Maldito’, De Castro being the star of the show.

Mário was the first Atlético Mineiro player outside of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo to be called up for the Brazilian national football team. The best player in Brazil at the time, he retired aged 26, after Atletico’s director shot a Villa Nova fan following a 4-3 comeback victory where Mario scored all 4 goals.