March 01, (THEWILL) – Warta Pozna striker, Marcin Oleksy, insists that winning the FIFA Puskas Award for his sublime overhead finish against Stal Rzeszow last November has not changed him as a person.
The 35-year-old, who combines football with a full-time job as an excavator operator, became the first-ever amputee footballer to win the award, joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the Puskas Award roll of honour.
Despite the increased media attention and phone calls, Oleksy remains grounded and determined to continue playing football. Speaking recently, Oleksy said, “I am still the same Marcin. I don’t think anything has changed. There are more phone calls and media interest, but I haven’t changed. I watch the goal online with fans, but it won’t change who I am.”
His inspiring journey to the top has not been easy, as he suffered a life-changing accident in 2010 that left him missing one leg. However, the birth of his son gave him the motivation to return to football and achieve his dreams. Oleksy’s determination and incredible athleticism and technique have now earned him a place in football history, and he hopes to inspire others to achieve their goals.
The Pole has set his sights on more objectives, including bringing medals from the World Cup and UEFA European Championship with the Polish team and standing on the podium at Ekstraklasa with Warta Poznan. Oleksy’s story is one of perseverance and resilience, and his achievement is a testament to the power of sport to inspire and transform lives.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
