In an unusual turn of events, a famous ex-Brazil star has now announced he is set to play his farewell game despite retiring eight years ago.
Brazilian icon Adriano has confirmed that he will take part in his last match on 15 December, when two of his former clubs, Flamengo and Inter Milan, meet at the Maracana Stadium in Brazil.
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The now-42-year-old called time on his playing career back in May 2016 after a short spell with American fourth-tier club Miami United.
"Many people asked me to say goodbye," the former Selecao attacker explained, according to The Mirror.
"Even though I stopped playing a few years ago, this match was missing to end my cycle. I owed it to everyone who supported me and still supports me."
In the early 2000s, Adriano was considered one of the best players to come out of Brazil, with Inter Milan splashing €13.19 million to prise him away from Flamengo in August 2001.
He would go on to spend eight years on the Nerazzurri's books, although he was sent out on loan several times during the course of his time at the San Siro.
Remarkably, though, the former centre-forward still managed to contribute 74 goals and 28 assists in 177 games, and win nine trophies, with the Italian giants.
The left-footer's career was marred by various incidents of indiscipline, however, with accusations of alcohol struggles being levelled against him during his heyday.
Adriano would later admit that he became depressed in the early stages of his career due to the loss of his father in 2004, who died of a heart attack.
Speaking to The Players' Tribune in 2021, Adriano described how his father's death when he was 22 years old effectively ended his career.
"After that day, my love for football was never the same," he said.
"He loved the game, so I loved the game. It was that simple. It was my destiny. When I played football, I played for my family. When I scored, I scored for my family.
"So when my father died, football was never the same. I was across the ocean in Italy, away from my family, and I just couldn't cope with it.
"I got so depressed, man. I started drinking a lot. I didn't really want to train. It had nothing to do with Inter. I just wanted to go home."
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In his farewell match, Adriano will play for both Flamengo and Inter when the two clubs come together in December.