BRAZIL LEGEND ADRIANO ANNOUNCES FAREWELL MATCH AGED 42 TO 'END MY CYCLE'

Brazilian legend Adriano has announced a farewell match between beloved former clubs Flamengo and Inter Milan.

Adriano, 42, retired eight years ago, marking the end of a successful yet troubled career. The four-time Serie A champion will lace up his boots once again on December 15 at the iconic Maracana in Brazil, with ex-team-mates from both clubs joining him to celebrate his career.

Keen to give fans a proper goodbye, Adriano will play for both teams in the match. "Many people asked me to say goodbye," the former Brazil international explained. "Even though I stopped playing a few years ago, this match was missing to end my cycle. I owed it to everyone who supported me and still supports me."

Adriano's last competitive match was his second and final appearance for fourth-tier USA side Miami United in 2016. That was after two years without a club, having left Athletico Paranaense in 2014.

Nicknamed the 'Emperor' and blessed with a powerful left foot, Adriano was tipped to become one of Brazil's greatest ever players when he burst onto the scene with Flamengo at the turn of the century. Inter won the race for his signature in 2001 and later loaned him out to Fiorentina.

A two-year co-ownership deal was then agreed with Parma, where he was prolific. Inter welcomed him back in 2004, as they began an era of dominance in Italy. Scoring 74 goals in 177 games, Adriano helped the Nerazzurri win Serie A four times as well as lift two Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa.

Away from the pitch, though, his time at San Siro was marred by with depression and alcoholism. Adriano had severe issues following of the death of his father, Almir Leite Ribeiro, in 2004. His passing came just nine days after Adriano had helped Brazil, who he averaged more than a goal every other game for, beat great rivals Argentina in the Copa America final.

"After that day, my love for football was never the same," Adriano told The Players' Tribune in 2021. "He loved the game, so I loved the game. It was that simple. It was my destiny. When I played football, I played for my family. When I scored, I scored for my family. So when my father died, football was never the same."

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Despite the following two seasons being considered his best in football, he couldn't escape his demons. "To be honest with you, even though I scored a lot of goals in Serie A over those few years, and even though the fans really loved me, my joy was gone. It was my dad, you know?" Adriano added.

"I couldn't just flip a switch and feel like myself again. Not all injuries are physical, you understand?"

In 2008, he went back to Brazil and signed for Sao Paulo on loan, although his 17 goals in 29 games were overshadowed by various off-the-field incidents. His time with Inter came to a permanent end the following year after the arrival of new manager Jose Mourinho. Adriano returned to Flamengo and kept scoring, preceding to a troubled seven-month spell with Roma, his last club in Europe.

He later spent a year with Brazilian side Corinthians before failing to make a single appearance for Flamengo during his third spell. Adriano then had two years out of football before signing for Paranaense, who he only played for three times. Until now, his time at Miami had marked the end of his playing days but the 42-year-old will have one last dance later this year.

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2024-09-18T06:33:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd