Adriano – the legendary Inter Milan striker renowned for his fast and furious lifestyle – has turned 41.
It seems only yesterday that the Rio de Janeiro native was terrorising Serie A defenders and winning four back-to-back Scudettos.
He is best remembered for his raw power and ball-striking ability that saw him net 28 goals during the 2004/05 season. That in turn earned him a place on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer 6, where he became one of the most iconic players to ever appear in a football game due to his otherworldly long-range shooting.
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Now in his forties, the man dubbed L’Imperatore (The Emperor) by Inter fans has traded impressing in video games for starring in his own movie-like lifestyle.
Adriano celebrated his big day on Friday in style – drinking champagne on a private boat with his friends. The party-loving Brazilian was seen on his Instagram story beaming ear to ear while enjoying an alcoholic beverage and raising his middle finger.
He then tucked into some grub while opening a champagne bottle, before visiting a luxurious restaurant. There, he clapped in unison with his close ones, who sang him a birthday song and presented a mini cake with the message ‘Congratulations Emperor’.
What is your fondest Adriano memory? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: @adrianoimperador/Instagram)
(Image: Getty Images)
Adriano’s comfortable retirement is well-deserved. He netted 74 goals in 177 matches for Inter before injuries and the death of his father, who raised him in one of Rio’s toughest favelas, caused a downward spiral into depression and booze.
The forward recalled in an interview with R7 magazine: “I felt very lonely. After his death everything got worse, because I isolated myself.
“I was alone in Italy, sad and depressed, and then I started drinking. I only felt happy when I was drinking, I’d do it every night. I drank everything I could get my hands on: wine, whiskey, vodka, beer. Lots of beer.
“I didn’t stop drinking and in the end I had to leave Inter. I didn’t know how to hide it, I arrived drunk in the morning for training sessions.
(Image: Getty Images)
“I always showed up, even if I was completely drunk and the medical staff had to take me to sleep in the infirmary.
“Inter told the press I just had muscular problems. I later realised that the problem was the people around me, friends who did nothing but take me to parties with women and alcohol, without thinking about anything.”
Adriano’s hedonistic lifestyle attracted plenty of attention throughout his playing career. A year before retiring at Miami United in 2016, his move to French outfit Le Favre broke down at the very last minute.
(Image: @adrianoimperador/Instagram)
Brazilian publication Ext ra said he consoled himself by flying back from France to Rio and spending £13,000 on 18 prostitutes. He infamously took the sex workers to a private motel party, where they engaged in debauchery until the early hours of the morning.
Just a year prior in 2014, the former Roma and Parma star had been cleared for drug trafficking after being accused in 2010, due to a lack of evidence.
It was also claimed in 2021 that the Copa America winner had secretly rekindled his relationship with two stunning ex-girlfriends at the same time. He was said to be seeing long-time on-and-off girlfriend Micaela Mesquita in secret while enjoying trysts with model and medical student Victoria Moreira.
(Image: adrianoimperador/Instagram)
Last year, he revealed he was dating a 21-year-old beauty almost half his age. But the Brazil star appeared to have turned over a new leaf when he married Mesquita in November.
Stunningly, the marriage was reported to have lasted just 24 days as they split after he ‘disappeared for two days’ to watch Brazil play Switzerland at the World Cup.
Adriano is said to have spent two days in Vila Cruzeiro, where he grew up, before returning home to Mesquita and receiving a scolding regarding his whereabouts.
(Image: @adrianoimperador/Instagram)
It appears the fun-loving Brazilian is now back to his old tricks as he was spotted cosying up with a mystery redhead during his birthday boat cruise.
“By going back to Brazil I gave up millions,” Adriano said, after leaving Inter for Sao Paolo and then Flamengo following the death of his father. “But I gained happiness.”
And we certainly can’t dispute his success when it comes to enjoying his life to the fullest. Saúde, Imperator.
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