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Adriano Claims Free-Kick Against Real Madrid Was Hit At 105mph, Beating Official World Record

Adriano Claims Free-Kick Against Real Madrid Was Hit At 105mph, Beating Official World Record

What a hit, son!

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Adriano Leite Ribeiro wasn't only one of the best strikers in world football at his peak, but the Brazilian had a ridiculous 'power shot' in his locker.

Former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic once called him the most talented he's ever played with.

It spoke volumes about his power and presence on the pitch.

"I played with players that I saw was a talent. But the one I felt could do it longer was, and he didn't do it, was Adriano," Ibrahimovic said during an exclusive interview with SPORTbible.

"When I came to Inter Milan, the first thing I said to the president was that I demand to play with him because he is the player I want to play with. He was an animal. He could shoot from every angle.

"Nobody could take the ball from him." Zlatan said.

Now you've got an idea of how brilliant Adriano was during his time with Inter, we'll delve into this incredible free-kick against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Back in August 2001, Inter played Madrid in a friendly when the powerful Brazilian produced one of the most deadliest shots we've ever seen, arrowing a free-kick into the top left corner.

Sit back, relax and witness a truly unbelievable strike.

Adriano has recently opened up about that free-kick in a brilliant feature on Inter Milan's official website, claiming that his free-kick travelled an incredible 105mph.

"I arrived at the Bernabeu. I was wearing Inter's shirt, Real were the opponents. It was like a dream.

"I didn't need anything more. I went onto the pitch and didn't think about anything, I played as if I were on that dusty field in Vila Cruzeiro.

"I worked, I played with skill, I did everything. I won a free-kick and the bench said I should take it.

"Do you remember the left foot that used to train on the street and at home, the one that drove my mother crazy? I introduced him to the world with that free-kick. They said it was going 105 miles per hour!"

The fact that the current official Guinness World Record, set in 2001 by Francisco Javier Galan Marin, who recorded a score of 80.1mph, says everything about this incredible free-kick from the Brazilian.

It's no surprise that he had 99 shot power on PES 6 back in the day.

The well-travelled frontman initially rose to prominence in his native Brazil, tearing it up for Flamengo before sealing a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan.

Though it was his stint with Parma that made people take notice of his undeniable talent. 23 goals in just 37 appearances saw him return to the San Siro, where he proved himself as one of the most lethal marksman in the game.

The Brazilian, who boasts a tidy goalscoring record of 27 goals in 48 appearances for Brazil, was insanely talented but constant off the field problems and his unhealthy lifestyle culminated in his huge fall from grace.

Image: PA
Image: PA

After the tragic death of his father, he turned to drugs and alcohol and the regular partying ultimately took its toll on Adriano.

"Only I know how much I suffered," Adriano said to R7 in Brazil.

"The death of my father left a huge hole. I felt alone and I isolated myself when he died. I was sad and depressed in Italy, and that was when I started to drink."

He later turned out for Sao Paulo, boyhood club Flamengo, Roma, Corinthians, AtlΓ©tico Paranaense and Miami United, his most recent club in 2016, and never truly reached the heights he was capable of reaching.

In July 2016, six years after his last appearance for Brazil against Ukraine in 2010, reports broke that Adriano had reportedly become dependent on a deadly gang known as the Red Command, who have been part of Rio's long-running gang war, for protection in order to live in the slum, according to Brazilian lawyers.

He had also been spotted holding rifles with gang members, while posing using the Red Command's hand signals.

Thankfully, going off his recent Instagram activity, the 38-year old appears to be doing a lot better.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics:Β Football News, Football, Adriano, Real Madrid, Inter Milan