Former Brazil and Inter striker Adriano, nicknamed 'The Emperor' at the height of his career, bid farewell to football on Sunday in a farewell match at the home of Flamengo, the club where his once-promising career began.
The 42-year-old was destined to become one of football's greats, but eventually succumbed to the pressures of sporting fame and alcohol problems.
The match played at the "Maracana" stadium in Rio de Janeiro ended with the 4-3 victory of 'Flamengo Legends' over 'Friends of Italy', reports KosovaPress.
The occasion allowed Adriano to officially say goodbye, eight years after his last official game, and featured some of Brazil's biggest names, including striker Romario and goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
An emotional Adriano was embraced by all the players as an AI-generated message from his late father appeared on the screen.
Winner of the Copa America in 2004 and the Confederations Cup in 2005, at the age of 22, Adriano gradually collapsed his career.
But after starting at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he gradually lost his place in the national team and in club football, plagued by weight and alcohol problems.
He won four Serie A titles with Inter and twice the Coppa Italia trophy. He also played for Italian clubs Roma, Parma and Fiorentina during his career which ended in 2016 after a brief spell with Miami United.
