Adriano (footballer, born February 1982)
Adriano Leite Ribeiro (born February 17, 1982), commonly known simply as Adriano, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a striker and was known for his long range left footed strikes.
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Adriano in 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Adriano Leite Ribeiro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | February 17, 1982 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Flamengo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Flamengo | 24 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Inter Milan | 8 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | → Fiorentina (loan) | 15 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Parma | 37 | (23) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | Inter Milan | 115 | (47) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | → São Paulo (loan) | 29 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Flamengo | 32 | (19) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Roma | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Corinthians | 4 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Flamengo | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Atlético Paranaense | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Miami United | 1 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 242 | (108) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Brazil U17 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Brazil U20 | 9 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2010 | Brazil | 48 | (27) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 18, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adriano had four prolific seasons in Italy with Italian clubs Parma and Inter Milan, being considered one of the best strikers in the world during this time and earning the nickname L'Imperatore ("the Emperor"). Adriano finished within the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or in 2004 and 2005 and was awarded the IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of 2005. He was a key figure in Inter's 2005–06 Scudetti win before his career was, however, marked by inconsistency and a decline in his performances which coincided with the death of his father. He moved back to his native Brazil in 2009 and went on to win a Brasileirão with both Flamengo and Corinthians. He retired in 2016 at the age of 34.
Making his Brazil debut at 18, Adriano was considered the long-term successor to Ronaldo. In the absence of Ronaldo he led Brazil to the 2004 Copa América, receiving the Golden Boot as the competition's leading scorer with seven goals. He also won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil, receiving the Golden Boot Award as the competition's leading scorer with five goals. Prior to the 2006 World Cup he was part of Brazil's much-vaunted "magic quartet" of offensive players alongside Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaká, which ultimately was not successful at the tournament.