Rio de Janeiro, Apr 16 (IANS): Former Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas returned to competitive football after being shot in the head more than two years ago.

Cabanas, 31, played 41 minutes for his club 12 de Octubre in their 2-0 victory over Martin Ledesma in Paraguay's third division Sunday night.

"Nobody survives what happened to me," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua. "That's why I always appreciate all the people who prayed for me and also the club 12 de Octubre for letting me play again."

"Having faith was fundamental for me. That's why I'm here right now," he added.

The comeback comes 810 days after Cabanas was shot in the restroom of a Mexican City bar after an argument with an alleged drug-dealer, who was arrested last year.

At the time, Cabanas was a leading striker for Club America in Mexico's top division. Cabanas still has the bullet lodged in his brain due to fears of removing it as it could be fatal.

He has scored 10 goals in 44 international appearances for Paraguay.