Iconic 00s football star’s lookalike son signs contract to follow in his dad’s footsteps – despite his troubled father now being unrecognisable

Adrianinho, son of iconic Brazilian footballer Adriano, has followed in the footsteps of his famous father after he signed a contract with Portuguese third tier side Academica de Coimbra.

Adriano was one of the brightest talents to emerge from Brazil’s golden era in the early 2000s and he had been widely touted for a career at the very height of the game.

However after looking set to succeed Ronaldo as Brazil’s next great world-beating No 9, the passing of his father derailed his career as he fell out of love with the game despite having shone for Inter Milan.

Adriano, who last year appeared unrecognisable as he was seen swigging beer barefoot in the streets, has bravely spoken openly about being consumed by depression and alcoholism, explaining how he went from ‘heaven to hell’ in the space of just nine days.

However, in more positive news, his son, 18, Adriano Carvalho Ribeiro, will be keeping the family name involved in European football after joining Academica de Coimbra, who are in Liga 3, the third tier of football in Portugal.

Adriano counter Inter, Parma, and Roma as the clubs he played for in Europe and he may now be watching his son play on the continent.

Adrianinho, who looks just like his father, has joined Portuguese side Academica de Coimbra

Adriano was one of the best strikers in the game for the likes of Inter Milan in the early 2000s

Adrianinho, who bears a strong physical resemblance to his father, also plays as a striker.

He is set to link up with the Under 19 side of Academica having previously been in the youth system of Brazilian sides Boavista, Gremio and Serrano.

The 18-year-old was also involved with a Barcelona-affiliated academy in Rio de Janeiro, before he signed professional terms with Serrano following a brief trial with Danish side Esbjerg in 2022.

And despite the struggles of his famous dad, Adrianinho has previously spoken about the impact he has had on his career.  

‘My father is my greatest influence, I admire him as a player and as a person,’ he said.

Meanwhile, after his move was confirmed to Portugal, Serrano, his former club, sent him a heartfelt message. 

‘And today our lion Adrianinho says goodbye to Serrano,’ they said. ‘Taking flight to a new continent, we sealed a contract with the Academica de Coimbra team from Portugal (sic.). 

‘We wish you much success in this new journey and hope you don’t forget the most beloved club in the city.’

Adriano recently appeared in a social media clip last year that sparked major health concerns

Adriano struggled with alcoholism and depression and claimed he’s ‘football’s biggest waste’ 

Adriano retired in 2016 at the age of 34, having won 14 major honours in his career including four Serie A titles with Inter. Yet, despite his success, the former striker failed to reach the heights many predicted when he burst onto the scene.

The former star struggled with alcoholism and depression during his time in Italy and recently claimed that he’s ‘football’s biggest waste’.

In an interview with The Players Tribune, Adriano 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 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?

‘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’. 

Adriano’s scoring record for Inter dramatically dipped during the 2006-07 campaign and he only played a bit-part role the following season as he battled with his demons. He was subsequently loaned out to Sao Paulo and spent the majority of his remaining playing days in his native country of Brazil.

Adrianinho’s former club Serrano wished him the best following his transfer to Europe

His father (pictured in a charity match in December) never quite fulfilled all of his potential

Speaking on his time in Italy, he had said: ‘I was broken. I grabbed a bottle of vodka. I’m not exaggerating, bro. I drank all that s*** alone. I filled my a** with vodka. I cried all night. 

‘I passed out on the couch because I drank so much and cried. But that was it, right, man? What could I do? I was in Milan for a reason. It was what I had dreamed of my entire life. 

‘God had given me the opportunity to become a football player in Europe. My family’s life has improved a lot thanks to my Lord and everything He did for me. And my family did a lot too. 

‘That was a small price I had to pay, compared to what was happening and what was still going to happen. I had this clear in my head. But that didn’t stop me from being sad.’

The emergence of the clip that purportedly showed him day-drinking in his childhood favela back in November fuelled concern that he was never able to shirk the trappings of alcoholism.

He was seen stumbling about the streets barefoot in broad daylight, sticking out his tongue and wildly gesturing to those around him with a chaotic smile plastered across his face. 

The Brazilian legend was later seen sitting against a lamppost and staring into space as he gently swayed back and forth in uncomfortable footage that ignited a debate on social media.