Superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Mohamed Salah have previously won the FIFA Puskas Award for incredible goals they have scored, but one past winner has now revealed that he almost committed suicide just days before finding out he was nominated for the accolade.
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Retired Brazilian footballer Wendell Lira won the Puskas Award in 2015 for a remarkable bicycle-kick goal for Goianesia in his home country, beating Lionel Messi to the accolade that year.
A star at youth level for the Selecao alongside the likes of Willian and Alexandre Pato, Lira suffered major injuries that harmed his chances of taking his career to the very top.
Against all odds, however, Lira picked up the Puskas prize four years ago, an award he admits saved his life.
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"I'd already decided I was going to end my life," he told FIFA.com.
"When you can't put food on the table, give your daughter and wife the minimum they need to get by... I saw no way out.
"I'd spent the whole night crying. I was going to play a friendly in Goianesia. On the way from Goiania to Goianesia I cried my eyes out, because I'd already planned on ending my life on that journey.
"But I couldn't bring myself to do it, so I returned home. I hugged my daughter and knew I couldn't let her grow up without a father.
"Two days later I got the news I'd been nominated for the Puskas. It saved my life, allowed me to turn it around, rewrite my story, win the Puskas, get the opportunities it brought, work and support my family.
"The award came at a really, really crucial moment. Thank God I didn't end up making that huge mistake."
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Lia retired from football at just 27 years old, and is now a professional gamer and popular YouTube personality.
Do you think Lira was deserving of the award in 2015? Let us know in the comments section below.
