Former Brazilian international striker Adriano said his official “farewell” to Football this Sunday, December 15, eight years after his last professional meeting.
On the occasion of a match in his honor, Sunday in Rio in front of more than 20,000 spectators which pitted the “legends” of Flamengo, his training club, against the “Friends of Italy”, ended with a victory 4 3 of the first. Now aged 42, the nicknamed “Imperatore” (“Emperor”) during his splendor in the 2000s has retired.
LUSA – ESTELA SILVA
This tribute comes more than eight years after his last meeting
The meeting was briefly interrupted by a message from his deceased father, generated by artificial intelligence, then Adriano was warmly greeted by each of the players present. This tribute comes more than eight years after the last professional match played by the former Inter and Flamengo scorer, who had wanted to return permanently to Brazil for family reasons well before his thirties. Winner with Brazil of the Copa America in 2004 then the Confederations Cup the following year, at barely 22 years old, Adriano (48 caps) then gradually disappeared from the radar.
He had spoken about his problems with alcoholism shortly before the meeting
Returning to live in the favela of his childhood, in Rio, he declared in “The Players’ Tribune” his problems with alcoholism last month. “Do you know what it’s like to be a hopeful? I do. Including being a disappointed hopeful. Biggest waste in football: Me. I like that word waste… I don’t do drugs, like they try to make it seem like I’m not a criminal but, of course, I could have been… I drink every day,” he wrote.
This legendary player scored 203 goals and notably won 4 Serie A and 1 Copa America
Belgium
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