10 Pro Evolution Soccer Legends Who Flopped In Real Life
5. Adriano
Adriano was nicknamed “The Emperor” by Inter Milan fans and, for a time, he ruled all before him on Pro Evolution Soccer.
A cover star on PES 6, the Brazilian was quite simply the greatest striker to ever grace the game.
Rumours abound that the brains behind Pro Evo, Shingo ‘Seabass’ Takatsuka, was an avid Inter fan with Adriano his favourite player.
Whatever the case, the South American was blessed with incredible stats in every department.
Strong, agile and surprisingly quick, Adriano was great in the air but even better on the ball, boasting impressive shot accuracy and a shot power rating of 99. Out of 100.
The Brazilian also had great balance and a wealth of special abilities that made him capable of shooting from almost any angle.
Throw in the fact he could smash in free kicks and it was hardly a surprise to see many PES gamers tipping Adriano to replace his compatriot Ronaldo as the world’s great no.9.
It’s heartbreaking that things didn’t quite work out. While Adriano had a fine career with Inter and Brazil, the death of his father and mentor at a key juncture derailed his development.
Adriano lost focus, partied too much and put on weight. Spells back in Brazil hinted at a revival but Adriano’s poor discipline on and off the pitch soon saw his career descend into farce.
Thankfully, Adriano is living a healthier life after football, but he’ll always be the one that got away.