Leandro Vissotto has announced that he will retire from volleyball after the 2022/2023 season.
He made the announcement after his team’s win over Sesi-SP, saying that every game now has an immense value and his body can no longer cope with the sport’s demands.
Subsequently, Vissotto shared a farewell message on his social media profiles.
“Dear volleyball,
After 28 years, it’s not easy to say “goodbye.” You captured my heart early on when I was playing for Flamengo, my beloved club. As a young boy, I didn’t pay much attention to you, but before I knew it, I was completely in love.
You taught me early on how to lose, how to win, how to have discipline, how to respect, how to be resilient, how to push myself, how to be competitive, how to never give up, and how to live with physical and mental pain. You took me away from my nest to teach me how to fly.
You gave me everything and took away so much from me!
There were days when I hated you, but most of the time, I loved you. There were days when it made sense to be away from the people I love, and other days when it didn’t.
You gave me the world, victories, defeats, glories, frustrations, emotions, and took me to incredible places, unforgettable sensations, cultures, people, countries, and religions.
Thank you for all the wonderful people you brought into my life who helped me grow and develop as an athlete and as a man. Thank you for teaching me to be a better human being.
I will love you forever.
Leandro Vissotto Neves”
