Former Brazil and Inter Milan star striker Adriano bids farewell to football | Football news

The 42-year-old was considered one of the world’s greatest forwards in the early 2000s before personal problems derailed his career.

Former Brazil and Inter Milan striker Adriano, nicknamed “The Emperor” in his prime, bid farewell to football in a testimonial match at home to Flamengo, the club where his once-promising career began.

The 42-year-old had been tipped to become one of football’s greats, but eventually succumbed to the pressures of sporting fame and alcohol problems.

The statement played at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday ended with a 4-3 victory for the “Flamengo Legends” against the “Friends of Italy”.

The occasion allowed Adriano to formally say goodbye, eight years after his last official match, and featured several Brazilian greats, including striker Romario and goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

The 48-time player was also accompanied on the pitch by his son Adrianinho and scored goals for both teams.

An emotional Adriano was hugged by all the players as the screen showed a message created by artificial intelligence from his late father.

Winner of the Copa America in 2004 and the Confederations Cup the following year, barely 22 years old, Adriano gradually disappeared from the radar.

After starting at the World Cup in Germany in 2006, he gradually lost his place in national team and club football, plagued by weight and alcohol problems.

He won four Serie A titles with Inter Milan and the Italian Cup trophy twice. He also played for Italian clubs Roma, Parma and Fiorentina during his career, which ended in 2016 after a brief stint with Miami United.

Returning to live in his childhood favela, in Rio, he spoke about his problems with alcoholism last month on the specialist website “The Players’ Tribune”.

“Do you know what it’s like to be a ‘hope’? I know that. Including being a disappointed hope. The biggest waste in football: Me. I like that word ‘waste’… I don’t do drugs as they try to make people think I’m not a criminal but of course I could have been… I drink everyday,” wrote he.