Quick Facts
Biography
Wendell Silva Lira (born 7 January 1989 in Goiânia) is a retired Brazilian association footballer who played as a striker.
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.
In June 2010, he was loaned to Fortaleza to play the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.
On 6 November 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; the goal was later also selected as one of three final contenders for the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award. A free agent at the time of the announcement, he was signed by Vila Nova weeks after. His goal subsequently went on to win the award on 11 January 2016. Wendell Lira got 46.7% of the total 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.
International career
Wendell Lira played in the 2006 Copa Sendai for the Brazil national under-20 football team, 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.
Retirement
On 28 July 2016, Wendell announced his retirement from professional football due to persistent injuries, seeking a career as a professional FIFA player and also as a YouTuber.
Career statistics
Club
| 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.
Honours
Club
- Campeonato Goiano: 2009
Individual
- FIFA Puskás Award: 2015