Pro football player Wendell Lira leaves regular sports for career in eSports
"My dream is to become FIFA world champion."
Professional football player Wendell Lira is retiring from real-life FIFA to compete in its video game adaptation.
As reported by the BBC, the Brazilian striker from Goianésia is stepping down from football after winning FIFA's Puskás Award for the best goal of 2015 in a 2-1 game between Goianesia and Atletico Goianiense.
At only 27 it may seem like a strange time to retire, but Lira cited regular injuries as a partial reason to hang up his cleats.
The other reason is that he wants to pursue a career in competitive gaming, specifically FIFA.
"My dream is to become FIFA world champion," Lira told Brazlilian publication globoesporte. He plans to set up a YouTube channel demonstrating his mad virtual football skills.