Wendell Lira
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wendell Silva Lira | ||
| Date of birth | January 7, 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Goiânia, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2009 | Goiás | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2012 | Goiás | 21 | (2) |
| 2010 | → Fortaleza (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Atlético Sorocaba | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | Trindade | 0 | (0) |
| 2013 | Goianésia | 16 | (0) |
| 2013 | Novo Horizonte | 0 | (0) |
| 2014 | URT | 3 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Anapolina | 5 | (0) |
| 2015 | Goianésia | 15 | (4) |
| 2015 | Tombense | 2 | (0) |
| 2016 | Vila Nova | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 70 | (6) | |
| National team | |||
| 2006 | Brazil U-20 | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Wendell Silva Lira (born January 7, 1989 in Goiânia) is a retired Brazilian association footballer who played as a striker.
Career
Club career
Wendell started his career at Goiás and was the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 top scorer in 2006 and was promoted to the senior squad in the following year. He made professional debut in a 0-2 away defeat to São Paulo in the Campeonato Brasileiro on May 12, 2007. Came on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Fabrício Carvalho.[1]
In June 2010, he was loaned to Fortaleza to play the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.[2]
On November 6, 2015 it was announced that his goal for Goianésia in a 2–1 win over Atlético-GO was named to the ten-goal shortlist for the FIFA Puskás Award;[3] the goal was later also selected as one of three final contenders for the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award.[4] A free agent at the time of the announcement, he was signed by Vila Nova weeks after.[5] His goal subsequently went on to win the award on 11 January 2016.[6] Wendell Lira got 46.7% of votes, against 33.3% of second place, Lionel Messi.
Wendell played for Vila Nova early in the 2016 season, but he was released on 3 May, having failed to score goals for his club.[7]
International career
Wendell Lira played in the 2006 Copa Sendai for the Brazil national under-20 football team,[8] having scored once in the competition against Tokohu XI. He received an offer by Milan, which was rejected by Goiás due to his 5-year contract.[9]
Retirement
On 28 July 2016, Wendell announced his retirement from professional football due to persistent injuries,[10] seeking a career as a professional FIFA Soccer player and also as a YouTuber.[11]
Career statistics
- (Correct as of January 11, 2016)
| Club | Season | Brazilian Série A | Copa do Brasil | State League | Copa Sudamericana | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Goiás | 2007 | 12 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 2 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 0 | |
| Goianésia | 2015 | - | - | - | - | 15 | 4 | - | - | 15 | 4 |
eSports
In 2012, Wendell was the Goiás FIFA Soccer tournament champion and, in November 2015, he was the Brazilian ranking leader which almost qualified him to the 2016 FIFA Interactive World Cup edition. After winning the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award, he was challenged by 2015 FIWC world champion Abdulaziz Alshehri and defeated the Saudi Arabian by 6–1, leading to an invite by EA Sports to compete in the 2016 FIWC.[12]
Honours
Club
- Goiás
- Campeonato Goiano: 2009
Individual
References
- ↑ "São Paulo 2-0 Goiás :: Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2007 :: Ficha do Jogo :: zerozero.pt". zerozero.pt. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ (Portuguese) espbr
- ↑ "Gol pelo Goianésia coloca brasileiro na briga pelo Prêmio Puskás" [Goal for Goianésia places Brazilian in the running for the Puskás Award] (in Portuguese). 6 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ "Puskás Award". FIFA.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ↑ "Após ser indicado ao Puskas, Wendell Lira arruma emprego e vai defender o Vila Nova". uol.com.br. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- 1 2 "FIFA Puskás Award". FIFA.com. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ↑ "Sem marcar nenhuma vez, Wendell Lira deixará Vila Nova 4 meses após Puskás". UOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ↑ "Federação Paranaense de Futebol". federacaopr.com.br. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ "Antes de Pato, Milan ofereceu R$ 6 milhões por brasileiro do Prêmio Puskas e não levou". uol.com.br. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ "Vencedor do Puskás, Wendell Lira se aposenta do futebol e vira jogador profissional de Fifa". uol.com.br. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ "Autor de gol mais bonito de 2015, Wendell Lira se aposenta e vira Youtuber - Entretenimento - BOL Notícias". uol.com.br. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ↑ "Depois de levar Prêmio Puskas, Wendell Lira bate campeão mundial de 'FIFA'". uol.com.br. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
External links
- (English) Guardian Stats Centre
- (English) sambafoot
- (Portuguese) zerozero.pt
- (English, Portuguese) WENDELL LIRA REACTION: FIFA Puskas Award winner [FULL] on YouTube
- (English) WINNER - FIFA Puskas Award 2015: Wendell Lira Goal on YouTube