Happy Birthday, Adriano! 5 things about the Former Nerazzurri Forward

Adriano celebrates his 42nd birthday today. The former Brazilian striker scored 74 goals in 177 appearances wearing the Inter jersey, winning 3 Scudetti, 2 Coppa Italia, and 3 Supercoppe Italiane. On the field, he showcased an extraordinary mix of technique, power, and charisma. On his birthday, let's revisit his career with Inter Milan with 5 intriguing facts.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOP SCORER

Adriano, the former Inter Milan forward, netted 18 goals in the Champions League, with 4 of them coming in the preliminary rounds. No one has scored more goals for Inter in this prestigious competition. Among his remarkable performances, his hat-trick against Porto in the round of 16 of the 2004/05 season stands out as truly exceptional.

A 178 KM/H FREE-KICK

14 August 2001: A start that made history and is still remembered by all Nerazzurri fans. Adriano joined Inter in the summer of 2001 and shortly after, he stepped onto the field in a friendly match, the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy, played on Real Madrid's turf. He came on a few minutes before the end of the game and earned a free-kick just outside the box: with a powerful left-foot strike clocked at 178 km/h, he found the net. A magnificent evening, an unforgettable start that turned him into an icon.

FOUR HAT-TRICKS

Messina, Porto, Treviso, Artmedia Bratislava. These are the four teams against which the Brazilian striker scored four hat-tricks. Four matches where his extraordinary physical prowess combined with unique talent made all the difference.

A RECORD CROSSBAR STRIKE

2004/05 season: Inter drew 1-1 at home against Palermo. In that match, Adriano scored a header, but he entered the history books for recording the hardest shot ever in Serie A. From thirty meters out, he unleashed a rocket that hit the crossbar at 140 km/h.

THE LAST GOAL

2008/09 season: Adriano returned to Inter after a loan spell at San Paolo. In the return derby, he opened the scoring as the Nerazzurri defeated the Rossoneri 2-1. That was the last goal in the Inter jersey for the Brazilian striker.