Puskas winner quits football to focus on video game career
Xinhua, July 29, 2016 Adjust font size:
The winner of the FIFA Puskas award for the best goal of 2015 has quit football to become a professional video game player.
Brazilian Wendell Lira said he lost his desire to play after being released by Brazilian Serie B club Vila Nova in May.
"There were several factors (in the decision). One of the main reasons was for being disillusioned with football," the 27-year-old told Globoesporte.
"I had serious problems, surgeries. I was tired of the lies, the dirtiness. I won an amazing award that will stay with me forever but an opportunity has come along outside of football, something that I never thought would happen, but which I always dreamed of."
Lira, who is setting up his own YouTube channel, said his dream was to become FIFA champion as an eSports gamer.
The goal that brought Lira global fame was a twisting bicycle kick that helped Goianesia defeat Atletico Goianiense 2-1 in a Goias state league match in March last year.
It was voted ahead of goals scored by Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez. Endit