Wendell Lira

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Lira.

Wendell Silva Lira (born 7 January 1989) is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a striker and current FIFA esports player.

Wendelllira
Lira in 2021
Current team
Team	Netshoes E-Sports
Role	Player
Game	FIFA
Personal information
Name	Wendell Silva Lira
Career information
Playing career	2012–present
Team history
2019–2020	Sporting CP
2020–present	Netshoes E-Sports
Association football career Full name Wendell Silva Lira Date of birth (1989-01-07) 7 January 1989 (age 36) Place of birth Goiânia, Brazil Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) Position(s) Forward Youth career 2006–2009 Goiás Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 2006–2012 Goiás 38 (4) 2010 → Fortaleza (loan) 1 (0) 2012–2013 Atlético Sorocaba 0 (0) 2012 Trindade 3 (0) 2013 Goianésia 16 (0) 2013 Novo Horizonte 8 (4) 2014 URT 3 (0) 2014 Anapolina 5 (0) 2015 Goianésia 15 (4) 2015 Tombense 2 (0) 2016 Vila Nova 6 (0) Total 97 (12) International career 2006 Brazil U20 *Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Wendell started his career at Goiás and was the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 top scorer in 2006, being promoted to the senior squad in the following year. He made his professional debut in a 0–2 away defeat to São Paulo in the Campeonato Brasileiro on May 12, 2007, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Fabrício Carvalho.^[1]

In June 2010, he was loaned to Fortaleza of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.^[2]

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;^[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 received 46.7% of the total votes, ahead of 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 for the Brazil national under-20 football team in a friendly tournament in Japan in 2006,^[8] scoring once. He received an offer by AC 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 player and also as a YouTuber.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[12][13]

Club	Season	League			State league[a]		National Cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goiás	2006	Série A	0	0	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2007		12	2	7	2	1	1	1[c]	0	—		21	5
	2008		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2009		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2010		7	0	11	0	4	0	—		—		22	0
	2011	Série B	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		19	2	19	2	5	1	1	0	—		44	5
Fortaleza (loan)	2010	Série C	1	0	—		—		—		3[d]	0	4	0
Atlético Sorocaba	2012	Paulista A2	—		0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Trindade	2012	Goiano 2ª Divisão	—		3	0	—		—		—		3	0
Goianésia	2013	Série D	5	0	11	0	—		—		—		16	0
Novo Horizonte	2013	Goiano 3ª Divisão	—		8	4	—		—		—		8	4
URT	2014	Mineiro	—		3	0	—		—		—		3	0
Anapolina	2014	Série D	5	0	—		—		—		—		5	0
Goianésia	2015	Série D	0	0	15	4	—		—		—		15	4
Tombense	2015	Série C	2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
Vila Nova	2016	Série B	0	0	6	0	—		—		3[e]	0	9	0
Career total			32	2	65	10	5	1	1	0	6	0	109	13

1. Includes Campeonato Goiano.
2. Includes Copa do Brasil.
3. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
4. One appearance in Copa do Nordeste, two appearances in Copa Fares Lopes
5. Appearance(s) in Copa Verde

eSports

In 2012, Wendell was the Goiás FIFA tournament champion and in November 2015, he was the game's top Brazilian player, which almost qualified him to the 2016 FIFA Interactive World Cup. After winning the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award, he was challenged by 2015 FIWC champion Abdul Aziz Al-Shehri and defeated the Saudi Arabian 6–1, leading to an invite by EA Sports to compete in the 2016 FIWC.^[14] In 2019, Wendell joined Sporting CP eSports.^[15] In 2021, Wendell was called up to the Brazil national team and will play in the FIFAe Nations Series 2022 South American play-ins.

Honours

Goiás

• Campeonato Goiano: 2009

Individual

• FIFA Puskás Award: 2015^[6]