Puskas Award winner quits football – to become a gamer

Just months after beating the likes of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez to the Puskas Award, Wendell Lira has quit football to become a gamer.

The Brazilian scored just six times in an injury-plagued professional career, but his acrobatic strike for Goianesia against Atletico-GO in 2015 was named as FIFA s goal of the year at the Ballon d Or gala in January.

After leaving Vila Nova in May, Wendell has opted to retire from the sport in order to pursue a second dream career by linking up with a YouTube channel as a gamer in the lucrative esports industry.

I define my life in two dreams one possible and another almost impossible, the 27-year-old told Globo Esporte.

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 per cent 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. 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.

Wendell has already proven his console prowess, beating 2015 FIFA Interactive World Cup champion Abdulaziz Alshehri 6-1 after his Puskas Award success.

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