• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Adriano's highlights from 2004 to 2006 show just how special the man with 99 shot power was

Home> Football

Published 14:50 17 Feb 2023 GMT

Adriano's highlights from 2004 to 2006 show just how special the man with 99 shot power was

The former Inter Milan striker was simply unstoppable for two years, earning him a cult hero status in football, and his infamous PES stats.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

There are few players who combine cult status with the pure ability of a footballing god the way that Adriano did, and his highlights from 2004 to 2006 show why he's still talked about in such gleaming terms.

Very few players have the hold on us from such a short term at the top of their powers as former Inter Milan forward Adriano, whose career was blighted by injuries.

The Brazilian was one of the great players of his generation, even if his best didn't last as long as it should have done thanks to injuries and off the field problems.

His famed shot power earned him a stat of 99 on Pro Evolution Soccer, and it's no surprise when you remember how hard he could hit a free kick.

Advert

But it wasn't just his shooting, the former Parma star had the touch, pace and poise to go with it, making him as dangerous a player as anyone.

Adriano scored 29 goals in 60 Serie A games from the start of the 2004/05 season to the end of the 2005/06 season, winning the Coppa Italia in the former and a double with the league in the latter.

The highlights video of his time at the San Siro during the peak two years of his career show just how incredible he was.

The reverence that he is still held in, seven years after his retirement and far longer since he was anywhere close to his best, is shown by the fact he was given a spot on the Maracana Stadium Walk of Fame.

Advert

The man known as 'The Emperor' helped the national team win the Copa America in 2004, as well as the Confederations Cup a year later, winning the Golden Boot in the former and scoring 27 times in 48 games throughout his career for Brazil.

His off the field problems started with the sudden death of his father, which led to the now 41-year-old turning to alcoholism, he later described how tough it was to lose his father.

"The death of my father left a huge void in me," he admitted to Brazilian magazine R7. "I was alone, sad and depressed in Italy and that's when I started drinking."

"I did not know how to hide it because I was drunk even at training," he said of the beer, wine, whiskey and vodka binges that took over his life.

Advert

"I was completely drunk. They took me to the infirmary to sleep and then the club told the press that I had muscular problems."

Adriano was also excellent for his country. Image: Alamy
Adriano was also excellent for his country. Image: Alamy

During his career, the player who twice finished in the Ballon d'Or's top 10, was compared to a mix of fellow countryman Ronaldo and Inter teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swede has previously spoken to SPORTbible about playing alongside the Brazilian, saying, "I played with great champions. I played with players that were already...wow. I played with players that I saw were a talent and became

Advert

"But the one I felt could do it longer, and he didn't do it, was Adriano when I was at Inter. He could shoot from every angle, nobody could tackle him, nobody could take the ball, he was a pure animal."

High praise indeed for a player who usually only praises himself, that's the mark of how great Adriano was, even for a short time.

Featured Image Credit: BT Sport

Topics: Adriano, Inter Milan, Brazil

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

X

@Sidler28

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Adriano overcome with emotion as AI-generated video of his late father is played during Flamengo testimonial game
  • Why Man City's players are wearing black armbands in Champions League clash with Inter Milan
  • The winner of Football's Next Star who won Champions League with Inter Milan is now a manager aged just 33
  • Scott McTominay targeted for sensational move away from Napoli just months after joining the club

Choose your content:

9 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 9 mins ago

    Jude Bellingham could be about to cost Real Madrid astronomical sum of money as nightmare scenario revealed

    Jude Bellingham could be out of action until 2026 once the Club World Cup is over.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki incident at Club World Cup divides Man City fans as new footage emerges

    Foden and Cherki both made substitute appearances during Manchester City's 6-0 victory over Al Ain on June 23.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Man Utd 'interested' in signing Premier League flop who was substituted in humiliating fashion at Old Trafford

    Manchester United are looking to add new players to Ruben Amorim's squad.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Man Utd fans stunned by Bryan Mbeumo's 'real wage demands' and he'll be in line with one other player

    Premier League star set for huge pay increase at Old Trafford

    Football