Adriano's Biography

Adriano Leite Ribeiro, generally known as Adriano, was born on 17th February, 1982, in the Brazilian city of Rio De Janeiro.

Adriano started playing football on the beaches of Rio, and started playing for the Flamengo first team. He was scouted and won a place in the Brazil U-17 team, who he won the U-17 world cup with in 1999.

In 2001, at the age of 19, he made a high profile move, to Italian side, Inter Milan, for 20 million euros, after he finished as 2nd top scorer, in the U-20 world cup.

Upon signing, he said, "I would like to be to Inter what my idol Zico was for Udinese."

The day after his comment, he made his first start for Inter against Real Madrid. Adriano made a few defence splitting runs, and then caused the Madrid skipper, Fernando Hierro to get sent off. Then, Adriano scored from the resulting free kick, winning the match for Inter.

Hector Cuper, then the manager of Internazionale, only gave him 8 appearances that season, and he went on loan to Fiorentina for 6 months, where he scored 6 goals.

Expecting to return to Inter triumphantly, Adriano was disappointed to learn that he would be loaned out to Parma for the next season. Then the Inter chairman sold half of Adriano's contract to Parma as well for 12.5million euros.

However, he did make his mark there, scoring 20 goals that season.

Also, Adriano started breaking into the Brazilian team and in 2004 he won the Copa America, as the top scorer and he was also chosen as the best player.

That year the Inter chairman decided to buy back the other half of Adriano's contract, but he had to pay 29 million euros, compared to the 12.5 million he sold it for.

There was a worry that there would be lots of competition at Inter for places up front with Alvero Recoba and Christian Vieri also at the club, but in the 2004-05 season he eclipsed them both and became the first choice striker.

However, Adriano struggled after the 2006 World Cup, and in April 2009, the BBC reported that Adriano was to take a break from football and rethink his career.