Not all stories have a happy ending, as the world of football has demonstrated all too often down the years: the Italian Superga air crash, the events at the Heysel stadium and the Munich air disaster are just a few examples.

The story of Julio Gonzalez Ferreira could have been next on the list when the Paraguayan forward, who plays for Vicenza Calcio in Italy, was involved in a terrible road accident on 22 December 2005. Driving with Argentinian team-mate Ruben Grighini to the airport, where they were due to catch a flight home to South America for Christmas, he lost control of his car and crashed into two oncoming trucks.

Despite the incredible force of the impact, Grighini escaped with only a fracture to his left fibula. Gonzalez was less fortunate, however. Narrowly avoiding being killed, he suffered multiple fractures and his career looked set to end prematurely when Italian doctors were forced to amputate his left arm.

Against the odds, Gonzalez refused to abandon hope and was determined to reassert control over his own future and keep his promising career on track. In fact the young front-runner, who was only 24 at the time of the accident, had already won a silver medal with La Albirroja in the Olympic Football Tournament at Athens 2004 and had high hopes of featuring in the plans of national coach Anibal Ruiz for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

The desire to live
Having resolved not to accept the cruel hand that fate had dealt him, Julio Gonzalez forged ahead with a new objective: to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. Even so, the road ahead was a long one and he knew that he would have to be patient. The first stage in his recovery involved a stay in hospital, where he had the opportunity to view life and football from a different perspective.

"My accident wasn't such a bad thing because it has helped me to see the real beauty in life and the world," he declared philosophically. "While I was in hospital, I saw people who were much worse off than me, but they always had a smile on their face. Now I also want to bring a message of hope to people in need."

Besides his courage and determination, the Olympic silver medallist was able to benefit from the advice of another professional sportsman who had gone through a similar experience, ex-Formula 1 driver Alessandro Zanardi. The Italian, who had both legs amputated following a Champ Car accident in 2001, visited Julio González in hospital. "Alex instilled in me his desire to live," the South American says of their meeting.

During his first interview with the media several weeks after leaving hospital, Julio was brimming with optimism while the rest of the world had already written off his chances of playing again at the highest level. "Call it madness," he declared, "but in the corner of my mind I still have a crazy notion that one day I'll be able to play again!"

A few weeks later the plucky forward showed his doubters that he was true to his word when, having received a call from his club coach Giancarlo Camolese, he returned to training with Italian Serie B club Vicenza.

However, with a prosthesis in place of his left arm, he was prevented from playing professionally in Italy and had to make do with amateur level football. Many in his position would have been overjoyed to have made it this far, but not Gonzalez. Once his contract with Vicenza ended, his hunger for top-flight football led him back to his home country, where he signed for Tacuary in the Paraguayan first division.

Back where it all began
Julio finally made his top-flight comeback on the football pitches of his home country, seven years since he first turned professional. Having come through the youth academy at Olimpia Asuncion, the powerfully built striker (1m 91) made his first-division debut with Club Guarani. During 2001 he netted 17 goals in 29 matches with El Aborigen, a prolific return which attracted the attention of scouts from Vicenza, a club intent on unearthing a star who could propel them back into Serie A.

However at just 20 years of age, the inexperienced South American struggled to break into the first team and ended the season on loan with Huracan in the Argentinian first division. Having scored just one goal in ten encounters, he returned to Italy still searching for the form which he had enjoyed with Guarani. Unfortunately the 2002/2003 season was a carbon copy of his previous experience in Italy: no appearances for the Biancorossi and a career fast heading into a downward spiral.

It was in his native country that Gonzalez was to rediscover his scoring touch. Loaned out first to Tacuary, then to Nacional, he hit the goal trail once more, putting in some first-rate performances and securing a place in an Olympic team which would go on to reach the final at Athens 2004 before losing out to Argentina. In Paraguay, he was already being heralded as the next Jose Saturnino Cardozo, an icon of Paraguayan football during the last 15 years and all-time leading scorer in the national team with 25 goals from 83 caps.

A gift from God and an iron resolve
Having drawn a line under this difficult chapter in his career, the Albirroja striker finally looked to be back on track. He won back his place in the Vicenza team and was soon knocking in the goals around Italy, scoring 11 times in 38 matches following his return from Athens. He also started the 2005-2006 season with a flourish, bagging eight goals in the first three months of the season. However, the tragic events of 22 December put paid to his chances of success, both at club and national level.

Two years on, Julio Gonzalez is all set to return to playing at the highest level with Tacuary. Besides the national championship, Tacuary are also contesting the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana and will play their first match on Wednesday 1 August against Danubio of Uruguay. To help smooth his re-introduction to competitive football, the former Vicenza marksman can rely on the valuable support of Celso Gonzalez Ferreira, his younger brother and fellow team-mate in the Pumas line-up.

Besides his iron resolve, Gonzalez also owes his admirable recovery to his family. "When I realised just how close I had come to losing everything, that I could return home and spend time playing with my children, I knew it must be a gift from God." On the other hand, returning to football and realising his dream of playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup has everything to do with willpower, a gift which Julio Gonzalez Ferreira already has in abundance.