Adriano Leite

Adriano Leite Ribeiro (born February 17, 1982 in Rio de Janeiro), commonly known as simply Adriano, is a Brazilian association football Striker who is currently on the books for Brazilian club Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and is also a member of the Brazil national football team.

Club career

Early career

Adriano started Adriano Leite career in 1999 on Clube de Regatas do Flamengo's youth squad, and earned promotion to the senior squad one year later. Adriano Leite made Adriano Leite team debut on February 2, 2000, a Torneio Rio-São Paulo match against Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas. Adriano Leite scored a goal against São Paulo FC in the same competition 4 days later.

Despite signing a two-year contract with Flamengo in June 2000, Adriano Leite secured a move to F.C. Internazionale Milano for the 2001-02 season, and scored Adriano Leite first goal with the club against Real Madrid C.F. in a friendly match as a substitute.

Parma

Adriano was loaned out to league rival ACF Fiorentina for the 2001-02 season, after which a two-year co-ownership deal with Parma F.C. was agreed, along with Matteo Ferrari. Adriano Leite formed one of the most impressive striking duos of Serie A's last decade with Adrian Mutu, scoring 22 goals in 36 appearances. Adriano Leite missed ot for a month in November 2003.

Inter return

Adriano returned to the San Siro in 2004 on a 4-year contract and scored a total of 15 goals in Adriano Leite 16 appearances during the Serie A 2004-05. From July 11, 2004 through June 25, 2005, Adriano was in peak form as Adriano Leite scored an impressive total of 40 goals in both domestic and international competitions. In September 2005, Inter rewarded Adriano Leite for Adriano Leite efforts with an improved contract running until June 30, 2010.

Since signing the new deal, Adriano's future at Inter has suffered due to poor performances in the past three seasons, fueled by questions and speculation regarding Adriano Leite work ethic, which was called into question when Adriano Leite was twice caught partying at nightclubs during the Serie A 2006-07. Brazilian coach Dunga did not call Adriano up for a friendly against Ecuador national football team on October 10, 2006, and called for Adriano Leite to "change Adriano Leite behavior" and "focus on football". On February 18, 2007, Adriano skipped a team practice due to effects from a lengthy celebration of Adriano Leite birthday the night before, which led to Inter manager Roberto Mancini benching Adriano Leite for the team's UEFA Champions League match against Valencia CF and subsequent Serie A fixture against Calcio Catania.

Stint at São Paulo

On November 16, 2007, Inter owner Massimo Moratti sent Adriano on unpaid leave to Adriano Leite native Brazil for the second time in eighteen months, as Adriano Leite was set to attend São Paulo FC's training center, due to Adriano Leite poor physical condition and a past battle with alcoholism. Though Adriano Leite agent denied Adriano's desire to return to Brazilian club football, Adriano claimed Adriano Leite was willing to leave Inter in the January transfer window in search of regular playing time, with the Italian press stating interest from West Ham United F.C. and Manchester City F.C. In December 2007, Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra expressed interest in bringing Adriano to the club during the January transfer window, commenting, "Adriano was a top player, but Adriano Leite lost form when Adriano Leite father died, and Adriano Leite put on weight." Moratti, however, stated that Adriano would remain with Inter. "I would like Adriano Leite back here in January, as strong and as good as Adriano Leite was." On December 10, Inter technical director Marco Branca said that Adriano was expected to rejoin the team at the start of the new year. "The news has been good. We intend to leave Adriano Leite in peace until the end of the programme and then Adriano Leite will be treated like the other players."

Inter finalized a deal on December 19 to loan Adriano to São Paulo for the remainder of the 2007-08 season in order to allow Adriano Leite to compete in the 2007-08 Copa Libertadores. São Paulo fans were soon seen standing in long lines to buy Adriano Leite new number 10 jersey at the team's official merchandise retailer after Adriano was introduced and Adriano Leite shirt was unveiled at a team press conference. Adriano celebrated Adriano Leite competitive debut with São Paulo by scoring both goals in their 2-1 victory over Guaratinguetá Futebol on the opening day of the 2008 Campeonato Paulista.

Adriano was sent off after head butting Santos Futebol Clube fullback Domingos Nascimento dos Santos Filho on February 10, 2008, and was suspended for two matches after initially risking a suspension of eighteen months. Adriano Leite was fined by São Paulo on February 29 after arriving 30 minutes late for training, then leaving early and exchanging words with a photographer. According to team sporting director Marco Aurélio Cunha, Adriano "left the training ground because Adriano Leite wanted to. The team does not miss him. If Adriano Leite is not happy at São Paulo, Adriano Leite is free to go."

São Paulo sporting director Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva announced on June 17 that Adriano was returning to Inter ahead of schedule. "We have a balanced squad and it was better for Adriano to go back, given that we won’t be able to count on Adriano Leite for the rest of the campaign."

2008-09 season

Adriano was a regular goalscorer in the early stages of the Serie A 2008–09 campaign, reaching a combined total of 100 domestic goals in the Serie A and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. On October 22, 2008, Adriano scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Anorthosis Famagusta F.C., and with this goal, Adriano scored Adriano Leite 18th Champions league goal, and 70th for the club.

In December, Internazionale allowed Adriano Leite special dispensation to return to Brazil over the winter break earlier than planned. Inter confirmed on April 4 that Adriano had not returned from international duty with Brazil and has had no contact with the club. On April 24, Adriano finally rescinded Adriano Leite contract with Inter.

Flamengo

Adriano signed a one-year contract for Brazilian club Clube de Regatas do Flamengo on May 6, 2009, where Adriano Leite started Adriano Leite career. On Adriano Leite debut after returning to Flamengo, played on May 31, 2009, Adriano Leite scored a goal against Clube Atlético Paranaense. On June 21, 2009 Adriano Leite scored Adriano Leite first hat-trick for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in the 4-0 win over Sport Club Internacional in the Brazilian Série A.

International career

Adriano made Adriano Leite first international appearance for Brazil national football team in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification against Colombia national football team on November 15, 2000 at the age of 18. Adriano Leite was often considered as the long-term successor to Ronaldo. Adriano Leite scored Adriano Leite first international goal on June 11, 2003 in a friendly match against Nigeria national football team. Later that month, Adriano Leite was included in Brazil team for 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. Adriano Leite led Brazil's attack alongside Ronaldinho in the absence of Ronaldo. Adriano Leite appeared in all three matches and scored two goals as Brazil was eliminated in the group stage. Adriano Leite missed 2004 CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament due to injuries.

The following year, Adriano Leite was included in Brazil team for Copa América 2004. Brazil won the cup and Adriano won the Golden Boot as the competition's leading scorer with seven goals. In the Final match against Argentina national football team, Adriano dramatically scored the equalizer in the 93rd minute. The match went on to Penalty shootout and Brazil finally won 4-2. After the match, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira singled out Adriano as a very important factor in winning the title.

In 2005, Adriano once again has an impressive tournament with Brazil, this time in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Adriano was named Player of the Tournament and received the Golden Boot Award as the competition's leading scorer with five goals. In the final, Adriano Leite steered Brazil to victory, scoring two goals in a 4-1 victory over Argentina.

Adriano was called up for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, scoring Adriano Leite first goal on June 18, 2006 in a 2-0 win against Australia national football team and Adriano Leite second in a 3-0 victory against Ghana national football team. Despite Adriano Leite two goals, Adriano's World Cup campaign was considered a disappointment, as Adriano Leite shot the ball only five times all tournament, while Brazil as a whole were unable to find the right mix between defence and attack, which Brazil ultimately eliminated in the quarter-finals.

After the disappointing World Cup, Adriano's international career declined due to a series of poor club performances and personal problems. Adriano has featured once for Brazil under Dunga's regime since the conclusion of the World Cup, as a halftime substitute during a 2-0 friendly loss to Portugal national football team on February 6, 2007. In 2008, Adriano finally regained Adriano Leite form during Adriano Leite stint at São Paulo FC and earned a recall to the national team. On October 10, 2008, Adriano scored Adriano Leite first international goal in two years in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against Venezuela national football team.

Honours

Club
- Campeonato Carioca: 2000, 2001
- Copa dos Campeões: 2001
- Serie A: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Coppa Italia: 2005, 2006
- Italian Super Cup: 2005, 2006

International
- Copa América: 2004
- Confederations Cup: 2005
- FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1999
- South American Youth Championship: 2001

Individual
- Copa América: 2004 - Golden Ball for The Best Player of the Tournament and The Golden Shoe For Top Scorer
- Confederations Cup: 2005 - Golden Ball for The Best Player of the Tournament and The Golden Shoe For Top Scorer