Wendell Lira has decided to hang up his boots for good and don virtual ones as he pursues a career as a professional gamer. The 27-year-old rose to fame after winning the Puskas award in 2015. The Brazilian took home the best goal of the year award ahead of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, for his sensational acrobatic bicycle kick in a state championship match against Atletico Goianiense.
Also Read: 5 unexpected players to have made the Puskas Award shortlist
At 27, his decision may seem premature, but Wendell also cited recurring injuries as a partial factor for his decision.
The Brazilian striker started his career at Goias, an association football team in 2006. He was then loaned out to Fortaleza to play the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie-C. After winning the Puskas Award, he was signed by Vila Nova. After failing to score a goal for the club, he was released in 2016, following which he announced his retirement from football, and ended his career with just 6 club goals.
Wendell, though, seems delighted with his decision. According to the Brazilian, it was always his dream to be a gamer. A FIFA game fanatic, Lira dreams of one day becoming a FIFA champion. He also plans on setting up his own YouTube channel to showcase his virtual skills.
Wendell has already shown that he is no slouch with a gaming controller after defeating Abdulaziz Alshehri, the FIFA Interactive World Cup champion of 2015.
In an interview with Globoesporte last Thursday, Lira said "I define my life in two dreams -- one possible and another almost impossible. One was to be a player and have achievements, which is difficult because, in Brazilian football, it is difficult to become professional. In fact, 95 percent of football players from Brazil have difficulties. I lived 15 years in football, and had good times and bad. I had pleasant moments I'll never forget. I played alongside big stars, too.”
The former footballer also said he was looking forward to life as a gamer, “I had pleasure being a guy who was actually accomplished at football. And I had the dream of being a gamer, I always had this desire to live it. It is almost impossible to stop playing football to live as a gamer, but God gave me this opportunity. It is not the end of a dream. In fact, God has given me the opportunity to have this job as a follow-up in my life, being happy and continuing with that smile."
Take a look at his wonder goal for which he won the Puskas Award -
