“I’m obsessed with wasting my life” - Brazil icon Adriano opens up on alcoholism, women and accusations of drug abuse
Former Brazilian frontman Adriano has opened up about his alcoholism, accusations of drug abuse, and allegedly wasting his potential as a footballer. Nicknamed 'Emperor' during his playing days at Inter Milan, the Brazilian was one of the most lethal strikers in Europe during his prime.
However, Adriano's career plummeted after the death of his father, leading to him becoming an alcoholic. After playing 331 games and scoring 150 goals in senior club football, the Brazilian finally hung up his boots in 2016.
After retirement, he returned to his hometown Vila Cruzeiro Favela in Rio de Janeiro. In October 2024, a video featuring a seemingly inebriated Adriano struggling through the streets went viral.
In an interview with The Players' Tribune (via GOAL), the former Brazil forward opened up about his alcoholism and his seemingly unfulfilled footballing potential. He said:
"Do you know what it feels like to be a promise? I know. Including an unfulfilled promise. Football’s biggest waste: Me. I like that word, waste. Not only because of how it sounds, but because I’m obsessed with wasting my life. I'm fine like this, in frantic waste. I enjoy this stigma. I don’t do drugs, as they try to prove. I’m not into crime, but, of course, I could have been. I don’t like clubbing. I always go to the same place in my neighbourhood, the Nana’s kiosk. If you want to meet me, stop by. I drink every other day, yes. (And the other days, too.) How does a person like me get to the point of drinking almost every day?" he said.
Adriano continued:
"I don’t like giving explanations to others. But here’s one. I drink because it’s not easy to be a promise that remains in debt. And it gets even worse at my age. They call me Emperor. Picture that. A guy who left the favela to receive the nickname Emperor in Europe. How do you explain that, man? I didn’t understand it until today. OK, so maybe I did some things right after all. A lot of people didn’t understand why I abandoned the glory of the stadiums to sit in my old neighbourhood, drinking to oblivion. Because at some point I wanted to, and it’s the kind of decision that’s difficult to go back on."
Former Brazilian forward Adriano talks about his struggles at Inter Milan
Adriano is most remembered for his time with Inter Milan. The Brazilian first joined Inter as a teenager in 2002 and rocketed to fame for his exploits at the club. He won the Serie A four times with the club and earned the nickname 'Emperor'. In 177 games across competitions for I Nerazzurri, Adriano scored 74 goals and created 28 more.
In the same interview, the Brazilian opened up about his struggles with alcoholism during his playing days at Inter Milan. He said:
"I tried to do what they wanted. I bargained with Roberto Mancini. I tried hard with Jose Mourinho. I cried on [ex-Inter chairman Massimo] Moratti’s shoulder. But I couldn’t do what they asked. I stayed well for a few weeks, avoided the booze, trained like a horse, but there was always a relapse. Over and over again. Everyone blasted me. I couldn’t take it anymore."
Speaking about the regular criticism he faced, Adriano explained:
"People said a lot of shit because they were all embarrassed. 'Wow, Adriano stopped earning seven million euros. Did he give up everything for this shit?' That’s what I heard most. But they don’t know why I did it. I did it because I wasn’t well. I needed my space to do what I wanted to do."
He finally highlighted the importance of peace in his life. According to Adriano, his hometown Vila Cruzeiro provides him just that.
"You see it now for yourself. Is there something wrong with how we’re hanging out here?? No. Sorry to disappoint. But the only thing I look for in Vila Cruzeiro is peace. Here I walk barefoot and shirtless, just wearing shorts. I play dominoes, sit on the curb, remember my childhood stories, listen to music, dance with my friends, and sleep on the floor. I see my father in each of these alleys," he said.
"What more would I want? I don’t even bring women here. Much less do I mess with girls who are from my community. Because I just want to be at peace and remember my essence. That’s why I keep coming back here. Here I am truly respected," he concluded.