Adriano (footballer, born January 1979)

Adriano was born in Rio Branco, Acre. He started out in 1998 with Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, then went on to represent in his country Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. Switching to Portugal in 2002, Adriano began playing with Madeira's C.D. Nacional. After a quick return stint in Brazil with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube he joined FC Porto in January 2006, and gradually made his way into the starting eleven, helping the northern club to conquer the Primeira Liga championship and also scoring the winning goal in that year's Taça de Portugal final. After Lisandro López was reconverted as a striker, Adriano lost his starter status, but was often brought in from the bench. In August 2008, both C.F. Os Belenenses and FC Rapid București tried to sign him on loan; however, he refused, choosing to stay at Porto and fight for a place, but did not appear in a single competitive game throughout the 2008–09 season.