Former Soccer Star Sebastian Rosenthal Reveals Father's Suicide Tragedy

Sebastian Rosenthal, a former soccer player once nicknamed "The Best Jew in the World," has revealed the profound tragedy of his life: his father's suicide. In the late 1990s, Rosenthal was a prominent striker in Chile, playing for the national team and earning a then-significant transfer fee of 4.5 million euros to Scotland's Glasgow Rangers. Injuries hampered his career, which included brief stints in Israel with Maccabi Petah Tikva and Maccabi Netanya, his final club.

Rosenthal recently shared in a Chilean interview that his father, Lazaro, died by suicide at age 57 in 2016. Lazaro was found in his car near a Jewish cemetery with a gunshot wound, and the circumstances were unclear at the time. Rosenthal explained that his father, a tough man who shared his passion for football, had no history of depression, making his sudden death a devastating shock.

"His suffering was too great," Rosenthal stated, explaining his father's decision as an escape from unbearable pain, not an act of selfishness. He emphasized the importance of discussing depression and not judging those who struggle, acknowledging that it's impossible to know if his father could have been helped. Rosenthal finds solace in talking to others who have experienced similar losses.

He also reflected on his own career, particularly his move to Israel. His ex-wife was pregnant with their son, Lucas, and they planned for him to be born in Israel. However, Rosenthal was unexpectedly dropped by his club on the day he was supposed to travel to Israel, a decision he never understood. This event, coupled with limited options, led him to retire from professional football.

Rosenthal cherishes his father's memory, recalling his kindness and popularity. He describes himself as a sensitive person, prone to tears, but feels no regrets about how he handled his father's death, focusing on protecting his family.